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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Believe: Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：accept as true (believe)

believe 🔊

/bɪˈliːv/

To think that something someone says is true or real.

accept as true 🔊

➕

/əkˈsɛpt æz truː/

To regard a statement or claim as true, often without immediate proof.

📁 Category：Mental States 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From OE belēfan: be- (intensive) + lēfan (to trust); originally 'hold dear'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'be' and 'leaf' — a bee believes a leaf is a flower.

📖 Example

I believe the weather forecast and brought my umbrella, even though the sky looks clear now. 🔊 I believe the weather forecast and brought my umbrella, even though the sky looks clear now.

🔗 Collocations

believe in – to have faith in someone or something

believe that – to think that something is true

believe it or not – used to express that something is surprising but true

🔄 Synonyms

trust (v.) – to have confidence in the truth or reliability of something

accept (v.) – to believe that something is true

think (v.) – to have a belief or opinion

🚫 Antonyms

doubt (v.) – to regard something as uncertain or questionable

disbelieve (v.) – to refuse to accept something as true

🌱 Derivatives

believer (n.) – a person who has faith in something

believable (adj.) – able to be believed

unbelievable (adj.) – not able to be believed

📖 Cultural Story

Believe originates from Old English belēfan, meaning 'to trust'. It shares a root with 'lief' (dear), thus originally 'to hold dear'. This link still appears in 'believe in someone'.

Meaning 2：have faith in (believe)

believe 🔊

/bɪˈliːv/

To have confidence in someone's good character or abilities.

have faith in 🔊

➕

/hæv feɪθ ɪn/

To have confidence in someone's character, abilities, or reliability.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I believe in you and know you will do a great job in the school play. 🔊 I believe in you and know you will do a great job in the school play.

🔗 Collocations

believe in yourself – to have confidence in your own abilities

believe in someone's potential – to trust that someone can achieve success

believe in the power of – to have faith in the effectiveness of something

🔄 Synonyms

trust (v.) – to rely on the integrity or ability of someone

have confidence in (phrase) – to feel sure about someone's qualities

count on (phrase) – to depend on someone's support

🚫 Antonyms

distrust (v.) – to regard someone as unreliable

doubt (v.) – to feel uncertain about someone's abilities

🌱 Derivatives

believer (n.) – a person who has faith in something

believable (adj.) – able to be believed

unbelievable (adj.) – not able to be believed