believable

adjective

be·​liev·​able bə-ˈlē-və-bəl How to pronounce believable (audio)
: capable of being believed especially as within the range of known possibility or probability
believability noun
believably adverb

Examples of believable in a Sentence

she had a believable excuse for missing the deadline
Recent Examples on the Web One of the most difficult assignments for any director is to not only find a talented child actor, but also evoke a believable performance that doesn’t have to be manufactured in the edit. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 Enemy sprites have been perfected; weapons look believable and somehow feel weightier; lighting has more balance; most impressively, cutscenes have been painstakingly upscaled, and obviously without AI, bringing characters to life but maintaining that retro sheen. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But the minimalist script allows both actors to act primarily through body language and facial expressions, building a believable chemistry through soft smiles and shy silences. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 How could one author be so adept at weaving believable stories set in foreign lands and at distant times? Sarah Schutte, National Review, 4 Feb. 2024 But often scammers are trying very hard to make their emails seem more believable, such as trying to impersonate a friend. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 2 Feb. 2024 Well good, because Dumont isn’t trying to make anything real or believable. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2024 Levels feel more atmospheric, believable, and in the case of Atlantis, genuinely gross. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 The initial concept was to reboot a viral 2011 campaign featuring Jake Stone, an actual State Farm employee from Indiana, with an actor in the role — someone more believable than the genuine artifact. Avery Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'believable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of believable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near believable

Cite this Entry

“Believable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/believable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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