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Exploring the variety of synonyms for “believe” opens up a world of nuanced expression for us writers and communicators. When we use synonyms, we’re not just swapping out words; we’re adding layers of meaning and emotional depth to our sentences. Let’s follow a list of synonyms for “believe” in English with ESL pictures and useful example sentences to broaden your vocabulary words.
Believe Synonyms
What Is “Believe”?
“Believe” is a verb that describes the action of accepting something as true, holding an opinion, or having confidence in a concept without the need for conclusive proof. When we believe something, we are convinced of its truthfulness, whether it’s based on evidence or faith.
List of Synonyms for Believe
- Think
- Conceive
- Consider
- Hold
- Deem
- Trust
- Accept
- Assume
- Presume
- Suppose
- Reckon
- Judge
- Be of the opinion
- Be convinced
- Be certain
- Be sure
- Have faith
- Have confidence
- Rely on
- Count on
- Bank on
- Credit
- Take for granted
- Take as gospel
- Be inclined to think
- Have an idea
- Guess
- Imagine
- Feel
- Conclude
- Deduce
- Infer
- Opine
- Estimate
- Surmise
- Postulate
- Hypothesize
- Theorize
- Presuppose
- Maintain
- Affirm
- Contend
- Assert
- Be under the impression
- Have the feeling
- Sense
- Come to the conclusion
- Draw the conclusion
- Allow
- Acknowledge
- Admit
- Buy
- Swallow
- Bet on
- Lean towards
- Entertain the idea
- Harbor the idea
- Subscribe to
- Give credence to
- Place trust in
- Put stock in
- Swear by
- Take stock in
- Endorse
- Advocate
- Stand by
- Stick with
- Cling to
- Hinge on
- Depend on
- Build on
- Go by
- Base upon
- Rest on
- Ground on
- Bargain for
- Look to
- Take on faith
- Take as read
- Place confidence in
- Put one’s faith in
- Be assured of
- Set store by
- Rate highly
- Value
- Treasure
- Cherish
- Recognize
- Embrace
- Accept as true
- Give the benefit of the doubt
- Anticipate
- Look upon
- Regard
- View
- Hold to be
- Be of the conviction
- Be credulous
- Be persuaded of
- Be satisfied with
- Be confident of
- Have no doubt
- Keep the faith
- Be certain in one’s mind
- Have no question
- Hold as gospel truth
- Take on trust
- Take it
- Envisage
- Foresee
Types of Synonyms for Believe
There are numerous synonyms for the word “believe,” each with its own nuance. These synonyms can be categorized by the degree of certainty they convey. Here are some types of synonyms:
General Conviction or Acceptance
- Accept
- Trust
- Credit
Faith or Spiritual Belief
- Have faith in
- Trust in
- Be faithful to
Intellectual Assent
- Conclude
- Infer
- Deduce
- Surmise
Confidence or Reliance
- Rely on
- Count on
- Bank on
- Depend on
Assumption or Presumption
- Assume
- Presume
- Take for granted
- Suppose
Certainty or Assurance
- Be certain of
- Be sure of
- Be confident of
Optimistic Hope
- Hope
- Wish
- Desire
Tentative Belief
- Suspect
- Guess
- Speculate
- Conjecture
Emotional Conviction
- Feel
- Sense
- Intuit
Legal or Formal Acceptance
- Acknowledge
- Recognize
- Admit
Agreement or Endorsement
- Agree with
- Endorse
- Support
Personal Opinion
- Opine
- Hold the opinion
- Maintain
Philosophical or Theoretical Belief
- Adhere to
- Espouse
- Advocate
Common Synonyms for Believe
Believe vs. Trust
Believe implies accepting something as true, whereas trust suggests confidence in the reliability or honesty of someone or something.
- Many people believe in the power of positive thinking to bring about positive life changes.
- She trusts her financial advisor to make prudent investment decisions on her behalf.
Believe vs. Hope
Believe involves conviction, whereas hope denotes a desire for a certain outcome rather than certainty.
- He believes that with hard work and dedication, he can achieve his career goals.
- Despite the unfavorable weather forecast, she hopes that it will be sunny on the day of the outdoor wedding.
Believe vs. Know
Believe may be based on faith or limited evidence, but know is used when there’s a firm ground of facts or personal experience.
- Many athletes believe in the importance of mental visualization to improve their performance.
- After years of research, she knows a great deal about the history of the region.
Believe vs. Convince
To believe is to accept something as true, while to convince is to persuade someone else to believe or do something.
- She believes in the effectiveness of the new software because it has received excellent reviews.
- The lawyer had to convince the jury of his client’s innocence using compelling evidence.
Believe vs. Think
Believe generally expresses a stronger level of commitment to an idea than think, which can imply opinion or conjecture.
- Many people believe that true happiness comes from within, not from material possessions.
- I think it’s going to rain later, but I haven’t checked the weather forecast.
Synonyms for Believe in Different Contexts
Acceptance or Agreement
- Accept: We accept that the sun rises in the east.
- Trust: We trust you’ll make the right decision.
- Credit: We credit the team for their hard work.
Faith or Confidence
- Have faith in: We have faith in our children’s abilities.
- Count on: We count on our friends to be there for us.
- Rely on: We rely on our instincts when making a quick decision.
Conviction or Persuasion
- Convinced by: We’re convinced by the evidence presented.
- Swallow: We swallow our pride and admit we were wrong.
- Buy into: We buy into the idea that a healthy diet can improve our well-being.
Absolute and Near Synonyms of Believe
Absolute Synonyms for Believe
Word | Definition |
---|---|
Trust | To have confidence in the truth of something |
Credit | To accept as true or real |
Near Synonyms for Believe
Word | Definition |
---|---|
Assume | To take for granted or without proof |
Presume | To accept as true based on probability |
Accept | To receive as adequate, valid, or suitable |
Credit | To believe something as true, especially based on evidence to the contrary |
Reckon | To conclude or think after consideration |
Take for granted | To believe something to be the case without questioning it |
Through these various synonyms, we expand our ability to express belief in nuances that cater to different contexts and intensities of conviction.
Synonyms for Believe with Examples | Infographic
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some informal synonyms for the word believe?
Some informal synonyms for “believe” include “buy into,” “swallow,” and “take as gospel.” These expressions are conversational and might not be suitable for formal contexts.
Can you list antonyms for the term believe?
Certainly! Antonyms for the term “believe” are “disbelieve,” “reject,” “doubt,” and “question.” These terms express a lack of belief or certainty.
What’s a more formal alternative to the word believe?
A more formal alternative to “believe” is “concur with.” This term is often used in professional or academic writing to express agreement with a certain idea or theory.
Which synonyms for believe are commonly used in academic writing like IELTS?
In academic writing, such as for IELTS, synonyms like “assert,” “postulate,” and “presume” are commonly used. These synonyms convey a scholarly tone.
Can you provide synonyms for believe as used in biblical texts?
Yes, in biblical texts, “believe” synonyms include “have faith in,” “trust,” and “commit to.” These words often have a deeper spiritual connotation.
Is there another way to express ‘believe in everything’?
To express ‘believe in everything,’ one could say “credulous” or “unquestioning.” These terms imply a readiness to believe in things without proof or evidence.
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