believe in

English

Etymology

Calque of the Latin use of crēdō (“believe”) with in plus accusative.

Pronunciation

Audio (Mid-Atlantic) (file)

Verb

believe in (third-person singular simple present believes in, present participle believing in, simple past and past participle believed in)

(transitive) To ascribe existence to.
Do you believe in God / the Easter Bunny / ghosts?
Since I don't believe in reincarnation, I believe that the only way to eliminate suffering is to die.
(transitive) To believe that (something) is right or desirable.
I don't believe in sex before marriage.
I don't believe in making my bed.
- 1997, Carlin, George, “Preface”, in Brain Droppings‎, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, LCCN 96-52373, OCLC 36084460, OL 26335012M, page xi:
  I'm happy to tell you there is very little in this world that I believe in.
- 2017 June 23, “Is spokes model Cindy Margolis married or single after her divorce with Guy Starkman, Know her current affairs”, in Hitberry.com‎:
  The couple is one of the celebrities who believed in open relationships.
(transitive) To have confidence in the ability or power of.
I believe in you, man! You can do it!
- 1972 March 14, Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather, Paramount Pictures, spoken by Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto):
  I believe in America. America has made my fortune and I raised my daughter in the American fashion.
- 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, OCLC 246633669, PC, scene: Citadel:
  Ambassador Udina: The other species are scared. They've never faced anything like this before and they don't know what to do. They want us to step forward. They believe in humanity because of you.
  Ambassador Udina: Your ruthless pursuit of Saren and the geth, your defiance of the Council -- that's what humans are capable of! That's how we can defeat the Reapers!
  Ambassador Udina: The others will follow us, Shepard. They know we're their only hope. We will have a human Council with a human Chairman.

Antonyms

disbelieve in

Translations

ascribe existence to

Arabic: آمَنَ بِـ‎ (ar) (ʾāmana bi-)
Dutch: geloven in
Finnish: uskoa (fi) (+ illative)
German: glauben an (+ accusative)
Irish: creid i
Russian: ве́рить в (véritʹ v)
Turkish: inanmak (tr)
Ukrainian: ві́рити в (víryty v)

believe that something is right or desirable

Dutch: geloven in
Finnish: uskoa (fi) (+ illative)
Irish: creid i
Turkish: inanmak (tr)

have confidence in

Dutch: geloven in
Finnish: uskoa (fi) (+ illative)
German: glauben an (+ accusative)
Irish: iontaoibh a bheith agat, muinín a bheith agat
Turkish: güvenmek (tr), inanmak (tr)