believe
/bi'li:v/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To accept something as true or real: To hold something as true, often without absolute proof.
- To have confidence in the truth, existence, or reliability of something: To have faith or trust in a person, concept, or statement.
- To hold an opinion; to think: To suppose or consider something to be the case.
Examples of Usage
- Accepting as true:
- I believe his story. (I accept his story as true.)
- She didn't believe the rumor. (She did not accept the rumor as true.)
- Having faith or trust in:
- They believe in democracy. (They have faith in the principles of democracy.)
- Do you believe in ghosts? (Do you think ghosts exist?)
- Holding an opinion:
- I believe it will rain tomorrow. (I think it will rain tomorrow.)
- We believe her to be the best candidate. (We consider her to be the best candidate.)
Advanced Usage
- "Believe it or not": Used to introduce a statement that may be surprising or hard to accept.
- Believe it or not, I've never been to London.
- "Would you believe it?": An expression of surprise or disbelief about a situation.
- He's late again. Would you believe it?
- "If you believe that, you'll believe anything": A sarcastic remark indicating that something is completely unbelievable.
- He said the dog ate his passport. If you believe that, you'll believe anything.
Variants and Related Words
- Believable (adj): Able to be believed; credible.
- The witness gave a believable account of the event.
- Believer (n): A person who believes in a particular idea, faith, or cause.
- She is a firm believer in equal rights.
- Unbelievable (adj): So extraordinary as to be difficult to believe; incredible.
- The team's comeback was unbelievable.
Synonyms
- Trust: To have a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
- Accept: To consent to receive or undertake something offered; to believe something to be valid or correct.
- Think: To have a particular opinion, belief, or idea about someone or something.
- Suppose: To assume that something is the case on the basis of evidence or probability but without proof.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Believe in:
- To be convinced of the existence of something.
- Does he believe in God?
- To have faith in the value or efficacy of something.
- I believe in regular exercise.
- To trust that someone will behave well or succeed.
- Her coach really believes in her.
- Make believe: To pretend or imagine.
- The children like to make believe they are pirates.
Related Idioms
- Seeing is believing: You need to see something yourself before you can accept it is true.
- I didn't think he could cook, but seeing is believing!
- Believe your eyes/ears: To accept that what you are seeing or hearing is real, often because it is surprising.
- I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the size of the cake.
- Not believe a word of it: To think that something said is completely untrue.
- He said he was sick, but I don't believe a word of it.
Verb
- credit with veracity
- You cannot believe this man
- Should we believe a publication like the National Enquirer?
- follow a credo; have a faith; be a believer
- When you hear his sermons, you will be able to believe, too
- be confident about something
- I believe that he will come back from the war
- judge or regard; look upon; judge
- I think he is very smart
- I believe her to be very smart
- I think that he is her boyfriend
- The racist conceives such people to be inferior
- accept as true; take to be true
- I believed his report
- We didn't believe his stories from the War
- She believes in spirits