Believe

Be·lieve

Believe

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Believed; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing

  1. To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.
    Our conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty).
    King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?
    — Acts xxvi. 27.
    Often followed by a dependent clause. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
    — Acts viii. 37.

Believe

v. i.
  1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
    Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
    — Mark ix. 24.
    With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
    — Rom. x. 10.
  2. To think; to suppose.
    I will not believe so meanly of you.

Phrases & Compounds

To believe in
To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead.
To believe on
to accept implicitly as an object of religious trust or obedience; to have faith in.