Believe Definition

bĭ-lēv

believed, believes, believing

verb

believed, believes, believing

To accept as true or real.

Do you believe the news stories?

American Heritage

To take as true, real, etc.

Webster's New World

To have trust or confidence (in) as being true, real, good, etc.

Webster's New World

To credit with veracity.

I believe you.

American Heritage

To have confidence in a statement or promise of (another person)

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

idiom

believe (one's) ears

American Heritage

believe (one's) eyes

American Heritage

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Believe

From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan (“to believe”), from Proto-Germanic *bilaubijaną (“to believe”), equivalent to be- +‎ leave (“to allow, permit”). Cognate with Scots beleve (“to believe”). Compare Old English ġelīefan (“to be dear to; believe, trust”), Old English ġelēafa (“belief, faith, confidence, trust”), Old English lēof ("dear, valued, beloved, pleasant, agreeable"; > English lief). Related also to North Frisian leauwjen (“to believe”), West Frisian leauwe (“to believe”), Dutch geloven (“to believe”), German glauben (“to believe”), Gothic (galaubjan, “to hold dear, valuable, or satisfactory, approve of, believe”).

From Wiktionary
Middle English bileven from Old English belȳfan, belēfan, gelēfan leubh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition