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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

believe

/bɪˈliv/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does believe mean?

verb

  1. To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
  2. To accept that someone is telling the truth.
  3. To have been convinced by rational means to accept the truth of a proposition.
More meanings (6)

verb

  1. To have been influenced by arational means (such as emotional experience, the imagination of need, etc.) to accept the truth of a proposition.
  2. To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
  3. To opine, think, reckon.
  4. To ascribe existence to.
  5. To believe that (something) is right or desirable.
  6. To have confidence in the ability or power of.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/bɪˈliv/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.
Joseph, Jr. Smith; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Book of Mormon : $b an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of NephiProject Gutenberg ebook #17
“Between we two, man and man, I believe that man would as soon tell a lie Sundays as working-days—that I do so.”
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
More book examples (3)
Among other things, the article assured me what I did not believe at the time, that the “Secret of Flying,” was discovered.
H. G. (Herbert George) WellsThe war of the worldsProject Gutenberg ebook #36
“Matthew Cuthbert, I believe that child has bewitched you! I can see as plain as plain that you want to keep her.”
L. M. (Lucy Maud) MontgomeryAnne of Green GablesProject Gutenberg ebook #45
Can we then for a moment believe that, if this had been so, tradition would have been absolutely silent on the matter?
Mark TwainWhat Is Man? and Other EssaysProject Gutenberg ebook #70