Deceive: Definition, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：to trick (deceive)

deceive 🔊

/dɪˈsiːv/

To make someone believe something that is not true.

Deceive meaning illustrated by a magician's hands performing a deceptive card trick with two identical cards.

to trick 🔊

➕

/tuː trɪk/

To cause someone to believe something that is false, typically to gain an advantage.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin ‘decipere’ (to catch, ensnare). ‘De-’ (away) + ‘capere’ (to take).

💡 Mnemonic

Deceive starts with ‘de-’ (down, away). Think: To DECEIVE is to take someone DOWN a false path.

📖 Example

The student tried to deceive the teacher by copying his essay from the internet and pretending it was his own work. 🔊 The student attempted to trick the teacher by plagiarizing an online essay and claiming it as original.

🔗 Collocations

deceive someone into doing something – To trick someone into performing a specific action.

deceive oneself – To refuse to accept an unpleasant truth about oneself.

deliberately deceive – To intentionally mislead someone.

🔄 Synonyms

mislead (v.) – To cause someone to have a wrong idea or impression.

trick (v.) – To deceive someone, often as a playful or cunning act.

fool (v.) – To deceive or trick someone, making them seem silly.

🚫 Antonyms

be honest with (phr.) – To tell the truth to someone.

tell the truth (phr.) – To state facts without deception.

enlighten (v.) – To give someone greater knowledge and understanding.

🌱 Derivatives

deception (n.) – The act of deceiving someone.

deceptive (adj.) – Giving an appearance or impression different from the true one.

deceit (n.) – Dishonest behavior that is intended to trick someone.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'deceive' comes from Latin 'decipere', literally meaning 'to take away' or 'ensnare'. It shares the root '-ceive' (to take) with words like conceive, perceive, and receive. It's a high-frequency term in legal contexts and everyday language for describing dishonesty.