Added 29 September 2026

believe

/bɪˈliːv/ verb

In Latin: crēdō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about believe at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.
To accept that someone is telling the truth.
Why did I ever believe you?
To have been persuaded to accept the factuality of something despite a lack of sufficient evidence therefore. To have been convinced by rational means to accept the truth of a proposition. To have been influenced by arational means (such as emotional experience, the imagination of need, etc.) to accept the truth of a proposition.

From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan (“to believe”), from Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan (“to believe”), equivalent to be- + leave (“to give leave or permission to, permit, allow, grant”). Cognate with Scots beleve (“to believe”), Old Frisian bilēva (“to permit”), Middle Dutch beloven (“to believe, entrust”), Middle Low German belö̂ven (“to believe”), Middle High German belouben (“to believe”). A related term in Old English was ġelīefan (“to be dear to; believe, trust”), from Proto-West Germanic *galaubijan (“to have faith, believe”), from Proto-Germanic *galaubijaną.