believe

verb

bə-ˈlēv How to pronounce believe (audio)
Definition of believenext
1
as in to accept
to regard as right or true only the most naive car buyer would have believed the salesman's claim that the dealership was actually losing money on the deal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to think
to have as an opinion despite the horrors she witnessed and endured, Anne Frank steadfastly believed that "people are really good at heart"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of believe Weiss believes the program is in dire need of a shake-up and has to be made more relevant to digital audiences and younger crowds. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 After a season defined by statistical extremes, Kittley believes one of FAU’s greatest strengths entering Year 2 is its ability to build on a promising foundation that has remained largely intact. — Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Continue reading … END OF AN ERA — Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, believes this will be his final year playing soccer. — FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Jessica Millan Patterson, a former state GOP chairwoman, is among those who believe the temporary pause in independent redistricting that voters approved in November will not be temporary. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for believe
  1. accept
  2. think
  3. understand
  4. guess
  5. take
  6. imagine
  7. trust
  8. consider
Verb
  • Nguyen Thi Quynh Tam, 24, said she was raped on July 5 and pressured by the man's family to accept money and not go to police.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • After rigorous vetting, companies accepted into the Program will be authorized to conduct two types of cyber operations under the contract and direction of the Departments of Justice or Homeland Security.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of accept
Verb
  • Part of that will depend on whether Black, whom the new staff thinks has the physical dimensions to be a high-level nose tackle, ends up playing well over the center, which would allow the Steelers at times to shift Benton over.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The Guayrá was still covered in a thick mist at that early hour, but the man was out in the middle of the square, looking down into the well and thinking sleepily about something.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • The team says understanding why the impurities do not prevent the formation of high-quality pyrite could help guide the development of similar materials from abundant resources.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Yet Rosenwald understood that people who command such great resources also have a responsibility to use these resources to help others.
    — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Don’t Spread the Experience Evenly Leaders don’t have to guess which in-store benefits matter most.
    — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Resist the urge to second guess every choice in the first few months.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of guess
Verb
  • Whether defendant Tyler Robinson acted out of political animus could be key for prosecutors seeking the death penalty — or for his attorneys in taking that punishment off the table.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Their concepts are travel-based, with their album like a travel brochure that takes fans and listeners on a trip.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of take
Verb
  • That sentiment inspires Sony Vizha – a celebration of Tamil culture, deeply rooted in emotion and imagined for a wider world.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The right mix of true and imagined can give the simplest of humane narratives — in this case, the possibility of renewal in an epidemic of hurt — a fresher chance to touch us.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of imagine
Verb
  • In their place, new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will need to trust that a younger group will step up.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Virgo August 23 – September 22 Your inner clarity gets easier to trust today.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of trust
Verb
  • Women considering enlistment are generally more likely to ask practical questions about pregnancy policies, hygiene and whether barracks were coed, recruiters and women currently serving explained.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • At least two San Francisco home listings seen by CNN this spring said the sellers would consider accepting shares of OpenAI or Anthropic as payment.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of consider

Phrases Containing believe

Browse Nearby Words

believably
believe
believed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/believe. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of believe for Spanish Speakers

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