believe

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to accept as true

   I believe it.

2. 2
   verb

   to credit with veracity

   You cannot believe this person.

3. 3
   verb

   to be confident about something

   I believe that we will end the war.

4. 4
   verb

   To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).

   If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.

5. 5
   verb

   To accept that someone is telling the truth.

   Why did I ever believe you?

6. 6
   verb

   To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.

   After that night in the church, I believed.

7. 7
   verb

   To opine, think, reckon.

   Do you think this is good? —Hmm, I believe it's okay.

8. 8
   verb

   [with in]

   Do you believe in God / the Easter Bunny / ghosts?

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *laubō Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *laubijaną Proto-West Germanic *laubijan Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan Old English belīefan Middle English bileven English believe From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan (“to believe”), from Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan (“to believe”), equivalent to…