Synonyms for believe
- accept
- admit
- conclude
- consider
- have
- hold
- regard
- suppose
- think
- trust
- understand
- accredit
- affirm
- buy
- conceive
- credit
- deem
- posit
- postulate
- presuppose
- swallow
- attach weight to
- be certain of
- be convinced of
- be credulous
- be of the opinion
- count on
- fall for
- give credence to
- have faith in
- have no doubt
- keep the faith
- lap up
- place confidence in
- presume true
- reckon on
- rest assured
- swear by
- take as gospel
- take at one's word
- take for granted
- take it
Antonyms for believe
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR BELIEVE
I believe he has given the Athenians philtres to make them love him.
Moreover, I believe, dearest Eudora, that half your wrongs are in your own imagination.
But believe me, Eudora, Alcibiades will never divorce Hipparete.
Has he then made you believe that he would divorce Hipparete?
She is glad to believe that there is every reason why it will soon be over.
When I was twenty I could have loved him devotedly, I believe.
But do try to believe, at the same time, that my own selfishness has been a kindness to you.
I believe it is the place where the rite of circumcision is performed.
Therefore you get the following sentence, "I believe I saw a giraffe."
It was on this errand that she first visited Boston—we believe in the winter of 1858-59.
WORD ORIGIN
Old English belyfan "to believe," earlier geleafa (Mercian), gelefa (Northumbrian), gelyfan (West Saxon) "believe," from Proto-Germanic *ga-laubjan "to believe," perhaps literally "hold dear, love" (cf. Old Saxon gilobian "believe," Dutch geloven, Old High German gilouben, German glauben), ultimately a compound based on PIE *leubh- "to care, desire, love" (see belief).
Spelling beleeve is common till 17c.; then altered, perhaps by influence of relieve, etc. To believe on instead of in was more common in 16c. but now is a peculiarity of theology; believe of also sometimes was used in 17c. Related: Believed (formerly occasionally beleft); believing. Expression believe it or not attested by 1874; Robert Ripley's newspaper cartoon of the same name is from 1918. Emphatic you better believe attested from 1854.