suspend (one's) disbelief

phrase

: to allow oneself to believe that something is true even though it seems impossible

The plot is ridiculous, but if you can suspend disbelief, it's an enjoyable movie.

If you want to enjoy this story, you have to suspend your disbelief.

Examples of suspend (one's) disbelief in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, many films no longer seem interested in even attempting to suspend disbelief about place. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026

Depending on your willingness to suspend disbelief, some aspects of the process might be difficult to embrace. — Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 27 Dec. 2025

As a viewer, one is required to suspend disbelief to accept anyone could get away with a stunt this preposterous. — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

In the end, a picture of this sort relies on the audience’s ability to suspend disbelief and enter willingly into the enjoyment of a comic book pastiche. — Paul Mungo, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025

Viewers make the choice to suspend disbelief and go along with what’s onscreen. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2025

Any author must suspend disbelief at least as much as their readers, and the key to writing for teens is to treat their experiences as valid and important. — Charlie Jane Anders, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025

The more recent phenomenon is this willingness to suspend disbelief. — IEEE Spectrum, 3 June 2018