believe*/*/*/

[bɪˈliːv]

verb

1) [T] to think that something is true

Astronomers knew the Earth was round, but few people believed it.[/ex]

The police didn't believe her.[/ex]

I don't believe she's his sister at all.[/ex]

It is widely believed (= believed by a lot of people) that the disease originally came from monkeys.[/ex]

She found it hard to believe that he was a real businessman.[/ex]

2) [T] to have an opinion about what is true or what might happen, although there is no proof

Syn:

think

Scientists believe a cure for the disease will be discovered soon.[/ex]

We were led to believe (= people told us) we could make a large profit.[/ex]

3) to have a religious belief

•

believe it or not — spoken used for emphasizing that something is very surprising but true[/ex]

[i]Jason and Mel are finally getting married, believe it or not![/ex]

I can't/don't believe it — spoken 1) used for emphasizing that you are extremely surprised or shocked[/ex]

'He graduated from Oxford.' 'I don't believe it!'[/ex]

— 2) used when something annoys you

I just don't believe it! I left my keys in the car again.[/ex]

- believe in sb/sth

Word family: believe Words in the same family as believe ● belief n ● disbelief n ● believable adj ● unbelievable adj ● disbelieve v