Believe — Defs

01 v. t. To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by re…

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).” — Milton.

“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.

Syn. See Expect.

02 v. i. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.

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.” — Fielding.

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.