bə̇ˈlēv, bē- rap. ˈblēv verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English bileven, beleven, from Old English belēfan, belȳfan, from be- + lēfan, lȳfan to allow, believe; akin to Old English gelȳfan to believe, alȳfan to allow, Old High German gi louben to believe, ir louben to allow, Old Norse leyfa to allow, Gothic ga laubjan to believe, us laubjan to allow, Old English lēof dear — more at love
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion — usually used with in
believe in the Scriptures
and sometimes with on
and many believed on him there — Jn 10:42(Authorized Version)
b. : to receive in faith or trust : accept
a story that divided the audience into those who believed and those who didn't
— often used with in
serfs incapable of believing in the sincerity of a master who desired to help them — E.J.Simmons
because of its sincerity … this is the kind of play one would like to believe in — Punch
2. obsolete : to give credence : trust — used with to
believe to your own virtues
3. : to have a firm conviction as to the beneficial, genuine, or good quality of something — used with in
believe in physical culture
4. : think , suppose
inclined to believe in accordance with her husband
transitive verb
1.
a. : to take (a statement or person making a statement) as true, valid, or honest : give credence to
believe the reports
b. : to accept or receive as genuine, valid, or good
a bland assumption that all scientists … decide and publish what science believes — R.M.Weaver
2. obsolete : to assume the existence of as true or valid
believe a God
3. : to be of the opinion : suppose , suspect
believe it will rain
the dye is believed to be a complex acid