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 Though some analysts see the stock surges as overblown, others believe the furor is justified given forecasts that the memory crunch could last years. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 July 2026 From preferential access to quality jobs in Bangladesh to exam paper leaks in India, young South Asians increasingly believe meritocracy no longer works. — Šumit Ganguly, NPR, 27 July 2026 Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other and, although one remained on the loose, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis told a news conference Sunday night that there was no ongoing threat to the public. — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 Yet Soren believes the real achievement is not the account list itself. — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 27 July 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
  • Once considered unprofessional or unconventional in some settings, tattoos have become far more accepted across generations.
    — Rachel Brown Kirkland, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • That silence is what widens the gap, teaching an entire team what leadership is willing to accept.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of accept
Verb
  • Let yourself be led with heart by doing things that are healthy, mature, and growth-oriented and let go of thinking that being ready is a feeling.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Williams, after all, thinks Loveland can be the best tight end in the NFL.
    — Trevor Woods, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • Instead of diluting its elite credibility to reach a broader audience, the brand translated that credibility into environments where the average person could understand its every day relevance.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Even more unnerving than the sheer volume is how little the impact is understood and accounted for.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • When a student misses twice, guesses rapidly, or reveals a misconception, StarSpark can interrupt the assignment, teach the relevant concept, provide additional practice, and then return the student to the original question.
    — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Some of the other players guessed the palette was lip liner or foundation.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of guess
Verb
  • Pimpton may have the inside track to start after taking most of the first team reps in spring camp.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • Kansas’ three Democratic governor hopefuls dug in on the issues and took shots at each other’s integrity and effectiveness in an hourlong Tuesday-evening television debate hosted by Topeka’s WIBW.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of take
Verb
  • Visitors are taken back in time to imagine how this now extinct creature — three times the size of a modern-day great white shark — used to swim right over the National Mall.
    — Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 31 July 2026
  • Advertisement Max staggers and envisions his dead wife and imagined son again before pulling himself back to his closing argument.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
Definition of imagine
Verb
  • But many others are more cautious, suggesting skepticism when trusting your health to AI.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Gen Z doesn’t trust AI, either The same instinct for verification shows up in how Gen Z treats artificial intelligence.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Definition of trust
Verb
  • AstraZeneca is considering a merger with Bristol Myers Squibb that would value the combined company at roughly $400 billion, the Financial Times reported Sunday.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • So when gas prices spiked after the war in Iran began, Johnson not only changed her commute but considered a second job or seeking out a roommate for her and her partner.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of consider

Phrases Containing believe

Browse Nearby Words

believably
believe
believed
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Cite this Entry

“Believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/believe. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of believe for Spanish Speakers

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