believe
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++be·lieve /bəˈliːv/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 BE SURE something IS TRUE[transitive]BELIEVE to be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth 相信 You shouldn’t believe everything you read. 你不应尽信书上看来的东西。 I believed him, even though his story sounded unlikely. 我相信了他，尽管他的话听上去难以置信。believe (that) I don’t believe he’s only 25. 我不相信他只有25岁。 I don’t believe a word of it (=I think it is completely untrue). 我一句话也不相信。2 HAVE AN OPINION[transitive]BELIEVE to think that something is true or possible, although you are not completely sure 认为；料想，猜想believe (that) Detectives believe that the victim knew his killer. 侦探认为被害人认识凶手。it is believed (that) It is believed that the house was built in 1735. 据信这房子建于1735年。believe so (=think that something is true) 认为是的 ‘Have they arrived yet?’ ‘Yes, I believe so.’ “他们到了吗？”“嗯，我想到了。”be believed to be something At 115, Mrs Jackson is believed to be the oldest person in the country. 115岁的杰克逊夫人被认为是国内最高寿的人。 The four men are widely believed (=believed by a lot of people) to have been killed by their captors. 人们普遍认为，那四名男子已遭绑架者杀害。 Did you honestly believe that I’d be stupid enough to do that? 你真的认为我会傻到做那样的事情吗？ I firmly believe that the business will be a success. 我坚信公司会成功的。► see thesaurus at think3 it’s difficult/hard to believe (that) used when you are surprised that something is true 很难相信〔用于表示惊异〕 Sometimes, it’s hard to believe we’ve been married for 50 years. 有时候，很难相信我们已经结婚50年了。 SPOKEN PHRASES13 RELIGION[intransitive]RRRELIGION to have a religious faith 有宗教信仰，信教 She says those who believe will go to heaven. 她说信教的人可以进天堂。14 believe in somebody/something phrasal verb a) BELIEVEto be sure that someone or something exists 相信…存在 Do you believe in God? 你相信有上帝吗？b) APPROVEto think that something is effective or right 相信…有用；相信…正确 I don’t believe in these diets. 我不相信这些节食方法。believe in doing something The school believes in letting children learn at their own pace. 这所学校认为要让孩子按着自己的进度学习。c) BELIEVEto trust someone and be confident that they will be successful 信任，信赖，相信〔某人会成功〕 The people want a president they can believe in. 老百姓想要一个可以信赖的总统。 Believe in yourself, or you’ll never succeed. 相信自己，否则你永远不会成功。 → make believe at make1(19)n GrammarPatterns with believe• You believe that something is true: We believe that all men are equal.• You believe that something should happen: We believe all men should be treated equally.• You believe that someone can do something: I still believe that we can win. • You believe that something might or could happen: Do you believe that things might change?• In more formal English, you can say it is believed that: It was believed that the King’s touch could cure diseases.• In all the above patterns with that, ‘that’ can be omitted: We believe all men are equal.• You can use the phrases I believe so or I don’t believe so, usually to give a short answer: ‘Are they married?’ ‘I believe so.’‘Were there any problems?’ ‘I don’t believe so.’ ✗Don’t say: I believe it.Using the progressiveBelieve is not used in the progressive. You say: I believe you. ✗Don’t say: I am believing you. THESAURUSto believe something 相信某事物believe to be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth 相信I believed her when she said that she loved me. 她说她爱我，我相信了。Don’t believe anything he tells you. 他告诉你的任何话都别信。accept to believe that something is true, especially because someone has persuaded you to believe it 〔尤指经说服而〕接受，相信His wife accepted his explanation for why he was late. 他妻子接受了他对于迟到的解释。nLeah had slowly come to accept her brother’s version of events.take somebody’s word for it especially spoken to believe what someone says is true, even though you have no proof or experience of it 〔在没有证据或经验的情况下〕相信某人的话I don’t know anything about him, so I’ll just have to take your word for it. 我对他一点也不了解，所以只能相信你的话。nYou don’t have to take my word for it – go and see for yourself.n‘Cakes are very easy to make.’ ‘I’ll take your word for it.’give somebody the benefit of the doubt to believe what someone says, even though you think it might not be true 姑且先相信某人Unless you have proof, you should give him the benefit of the doubt. 除非你有真凭实据，否则只能姑且相信他的话。to believe something that is untrue 相信不真实的事情be taken in (also fall for something informal) to be tricked into believing something that is not true 受骗，上当A lot of people were taken in by these claims. 许多人都给这些说法蒙骗了。I can’t believe she fell for that old excuse! 我简直不敢相信她竟会听信那种惯用的借口。swallow informal to believe a story or explanation that is not true, especially when this makes you seem silly （尤指愚蠢的）轻信，误信His aunt had swallowed his story unquestioningly. 他姑妈毫无疑心地相信了他的说法。nPolice refused to swallow his story, and put him in a cell.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
believe• Students weren't sure who to believe.• I had always believed Catherine to be absolutely honest in money matters.• You can't believe everything you read in the papers.• Well, he was not what Shula believed him to be.• Did the police believe his story?• We believe human rights are more important than economic considerations.• I asked them for a $10,000 loan, and believe it or not they said yes.• I told them I didn't do it, but no one believed me.• The party believes strongly that health care should be provided for everyone.• Both sides firmly believe that a peace settlement is now possible.• Some experts believe that adrenaline provides the body with the extra boost it needs to make up for lost sleep.• Labour still believes that it has a better story about its own plans for improving public services than the Tories.• Police believe that the money was stolen by a gang of youths.• People used to believe that the sun moved around the earth.• I firmly believe that we are responsible for what happens to us in our lives.• The suit was settled last month, days before former Crypto engineers were to testify that they believed the machines were altered.• Disney executives believe the porcelain models will become another lucrative spin off for their cartoon empire.• But people like Shakiri do not believe there can be a peaceful solution to the crisis.• Only those who believe will go to heaven.believe (that)• We believe a much better understanding of the environmental implications of using secondary aggregates is urgently required.• And as in folk medicine generally, if you believe it will help, it probably will.• Harald died three months later, I believe of a broken heart.• I believe that I should be receiving a refund.• I can't believe that Rosen was offended.• A: I do believe that.• But one look at the line and it is obvious that few actually believe the ascent could be that hard.• The Department of Transport believes the warm weather encourages more drink-driving ... with horrifying results.• But adults say they believe there are tastier burgers elsewhere, a disturbing fact when Census Bureau trends show an aging population.• Yet he avoids shows of emotion and personal feeling because he believes they are destructive.believe (that)• We believe a much better understanding of the environmental implications of using secondary aggregates is urgently required.• And as in folk medicine generally, if you believe it will help, it probably will.• Harald died three months later, I believe of a broken heart.• A: I do believe that.• But one look at the line and it is obvious that few actually believe the ascent could be that hard.• The Department of Transport believes the warm weather encourages more drink-driving ... with horrifying results.• But adults say they believe there are tastier burgers elsewhere, a disturbing fact when Census Bureau trends show an aging population.• Yet he avoids shows of emotion and personal feeling because he believes they are destructive.Origin believe Old English belefan, from lyfan, lefan “to allow, believe”be·lieve verb →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1
→SPOKEN PHRASES1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
→SPOKEN PHRASES1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
or Corpus that be something is sure someone to true that
believe
be‧lieve S1 W1 /bəˈliːv, bɪˈliːv/
verb
You shouldn’t believe everything you read.
I believed him, even though his story sounded unlikely.
believe (that)
I don’t believe he’s only 25.
I don’t believe a word of it (=I think it is completely untrue).
2. [transitive not in progressive] to think that something is true or possible, although you are not completely sure
believe (that)
Detectives believe that the victim knew his killer.
it is believed (that)
It is believed that the house was built in 1735.
believe so (=think that something is true)
‘Have they arrived yet?’ ‘Yes, I believe so.’
be believed to be something
At 115, Mrs Jackson is believed to be the oldest person in the country.
The four men are widely believed (=believed by a lot of people) to have been killed by their captors.
Did you honestly believe that I’d be stupid enough to do that?
I firmly believe that the business will be a success.
3. it’s difficult/hard to believe (that) used when you are surprised that something is true:
Sometimes, it’s hard to believe we’ve been married for 50 years.
SPOKEN PHRASES
4. can’t/don’t believe something used when you are very surprised or shocked by something:
I can’t believe he’s expecting us to work on Sunday!
I couldn’t believe it when he told me what had happened.
can hardly/scarcely believe something
I could scarcely believe my luck.
5. believe it or not used when you are saying something that is true but surprising:
He enjoys school, believe it or not.
6. would you believe it! (also I don’t believe it!) used when you are surprised or angry about something:
And then he just walked out. Would you believe it!
7. believe (you) me used to emphasize that something is definitely true:
There’ll be trouble when they find out about this, believe you me!
8. you’d better believe it! used to emphasize that something is true
9. don’t you believe it! used to emphasize that something is definitely not true
10. can’t believe your eyes/ears used to say that someone is very surprised by something they see or hear
11. if you believe that, you’ll believe anything used to say that something is definitely not true, and that anyone who believes it must be stupid
12. seeing is believing (also I’ll believe it when I see it) used to say that you will only believe that something happens or exists when you actually see it
13. [intransitive] to have a religious faith:
She says those who believe will go to heaven.
⇨ make believe at make1(19)
■ to believe something
▪believe to be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth: I believed her when she said that she loved me. | Don’t believe anything he tells you.
▪accept to believe that something is true, especially because someone has persuaded you to believe it: His wife accepted his explanation for why he was late. | Leah had slowly come to accept her brother’s version of events.
▪take sb’s word for it especially spoken to believe what someone says is true, even though you have no proof or experience of it: I don’t know anything about him, so I’ll just have to take your word for it. | You don’t have to take my word for it – go and see for yourself. | ‘Cakes are very easy to make.’ ‘I’ll take your word for it.’
▪give somebody the benefit of the doubt to believe what someone says, even though you think it might not be true: Unless you have proof, you should give him the benefit of the doubt.
■ to believe something that is untrue
▪be taken in (also fall for something informal) to be tricked into believing something that is not true: A lot of people were taken in by these claims. | I can’t believe she fell for that old excuse!
▪swallow informal to believe a story or explanation that is not true, especially when this makes you seem silly: His aunt had swallowed his story unquestioningly. | Police refused to swallow his story, and put him in a cell.
believe in somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to be sure that someone or something exists:
Do you believe in God?
2. to think that something is effective or right:
I don’t believe in these diets.
believe in doing something
The school believes in letting children learn at their own pace.
3. to trust someone and be confident that they will be successful:
The people want a president they can believe in.
Believe in yourself, or you’ll never succeed.
be‧lieve S1 W1 /bəˈliːv, bɪˈliːv/
verb Word Family: noun: belief, disbelief, believer; adjective: believable ≠ unbelievable, disbelieving; verb: believe ≠ disbelieve; adverb: unbelievably
Language: Old English
Origin: belefan, from lyfan, lefan 'to allow, believe'
1. [transitive not in progressive] to be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth:Origin: belefan, from lyfan, lefan 'to allow, believe'
believe (that)
2. [transitive not in progressive] to think that something is true or possible, although you are not completely sure
believe (that)
it is believed (that)
believe so (=think that something is true)
be believed to be something
3. it’s difficult/hard to believe (that) used when you are surprised that something is true:
SPOKEN PHRASES
4. can’t/don’t believe something used when you are very surprised or shocked by something:
can hardly/scarcely believe something
5. believe it or not used when you are saying something that is true but surprising:
6. would you believe it! (also I don’t believe it!) used when you are surprised or angry about something:
7. believe (you) me used to emphasize that something is definitely true:
8. you’d better believe it! used to emphasize that something is true
9. don’t you believe it! used to emphasize that something is definitely not true
10. can’t believe your eyes/ears used to say that someone is very surprised by something they see or hear
11. if you believe that, you’ll believe anything used to say that something is definitely not true, and that anyone who believes it must be stupid
12. seeing is believing (also I’ll believe it when I see it) used to say that you will only believe that something happens or exists when you actually see it
13. [intransitive] to have a religious faith:
⇨ make believe at make1(19)
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believe in somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to be sure that someone or something exists:
2. to think that something is effective or right:
believe in doing something
3. to trust someone and be confident that they will be successful:
think to have an idea that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about sb/sth 指认为、以为某人／某事…但不肯定 ：◆ Do you think (that) they'll come? 你认为他们会来吗？ ◆ Well, I like it. What do you think? 嗯，我喜欢这个。你认为怎么样？ believe to have an idea that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain; to have a particular opinion about sb/sth 指认为、以为 ：◆ Police believe (that) the man may be armed. 警方认为那个人可能携有武器。
think or believe? 用 think 还是 believe？
feel to have a particular opinion about sth that has happened or about what you/sb ought to do 指认为（已发生的事情…）、相信（应该…） ：◆ We all felt (that) we were unlucky to lose. 我们都认为我们输了是运气不好。 reckon ( to think that sth is true or possible指认为、以为 ：◆ I reckon (that) I'm going to get that job. 我认为我会得到那份工作。 be under the impression that… to have an idea that sth is true 指以为某事… ：◆ I was under the impression that the work had already been completed. 我还以为已经完工了呢。
Patterns
to think/believe/feel/reckon/be under the impression that… It is thought/believed/reckonedthat… to be thought/believed/felt/reckonedto be sthto think/believe/feel sth about sb/sthto sincerely/honestly/seriously/mistakenly think/believe/feel
Reporting someone's opinion 陈述某人的观点
◆ Photography is, according to Vidal, the art form of untalented people.据维达尔所言，摄影是没有天赋的人的艺术形式。 ◆ For Vidal, photography is the art form of untalented people.对维达尔来说，摄影是没有天赋的人的艺术形式。 ◆ His view is that photography is not art but merely the mechanical reproduction of images.他的观点是摄影不是艺术，而只是机械地复制图像。 ◆ Smith takes the view that photography is both an art and a science.史密斯所持的观点是：摄影既是一门艺术也是一门科学。 ◆ In Brown'sview , photography should be treated as a legitimate art in its own right.在布朗看来，摄影本身就应该被视为一种正当的艺术。 ◆ James is of the opinion that a good painter can always be a good photographer if he or she so decides.詹姆斯认为一个好的画家定能成为一个好的摄影师，只要他／她一心这样做。 ◆ Emerson believed that a photograph should only reflect what the human eye can see.埃默森认为照片应该只是反映人们肉眼所能见到的东西。
trust to believe that sb is good, honest, sincere, etc. and that they will do what you expect of them or do the right thing; to believe that sth is true or correct 指相信、信任、信赖 ：◆ You can trust me not to tell anyone. 你可以相信我不会跟任何人讲。 ◆ Don't trust what you read in the newspapers! 别相信你在报纸上读到的！ depend on/upon sb/sth (often used with can/cannot/could/could not ) to trust sb/sth to do what you expect or want, to do the right thing, or to be true or correct（常与 can/cannot/could/could not 连用）指相信、信赖、指望 ：◆ He was the sort of person you could depend on. 他是你可以信赖的人。 ◆ Can you depend on her version of what happened? 你相信她对所发生事情的描述吗？ rely on/upon sb/sth (used especially with can/cannot/could/could not andshould/should not ) to trust sb/sth to do what you expect or want, or to be honest, correct or good enough（尤与 can/cannot/could/could not 和 should/should not 连用）指信任、信赖 ：◆ Can I rely on you to keep this secret? 我能相信你会保守这个秘密吗？ ◆ You can't rely on any figures you get from them. 你不能相信从他们那儿得到的任何数据。
trust, depend or rely on/upon sb/sth? 用 trust、depend 还是 rely on/upon sb/sth？
count on sb/sth (often used with can/cannot/could/could not ) to be sure that sb will do what you need them to do, or that sth will happen as you want it to happen（常与 can/cannot/could/could not 连用）指可信赖、依靠、指望（某人做某事）、确信（某事会发生） ：◆ I'm counting on you to help me. 我就靠你帮我啦。 ◆ We can't count on the good weather lasting. 我们不能指望这样好的天气会持久。 believe in sb to feel that you can trust sb and/or that they will be successful 指信赖、信任、相信某人会成功 ：◆ They need a leader they can believe in. 他们需要一个可以信赖的领导。
Patterns
to trust/depend on/rely on/count on sb/sth to do sth to trust/believe in sb/sthto trust/rely on sb's advice/judgement to depend on/rely on/count on sb's support to completely trust/depend on/rely on/believe in sb/sth