believed

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
   • If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.

   Synonyms:

   understand, feel, see, buy, swallow, credit

2. (transitive) To accept that someone is telling the truth.
   • Why did I ever believe you?

   Synonyms:

   trust, Adam and Eve

3. (transitive) To have been convinced by rational means to accept the truth of a proposition.
4. (transitive) To have been influenced by arational means (such as emotional experience, the imagination of need, etc.) to accept the truth of a proposition.
5. (intransitive) To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
   • After that night in the church, I believed.
6. (transitive) To opine, think, reckon.
   • Do you think this is good? —Hmm, I believe it's okay.

   Synonyms:

   hold

See all 9 meanings of believe