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believe

/bɪˈliv/
verb

Believe means accepting something as true without complete certainty; the seven-letter word scores 12 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Verb 4 meanings

  1. 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.”

  2. To accept that someone is telling the truth.

    “Why did I ever believe you?”

  3. To have been persuaded to accept the factuality of something despite a lack of sufficient evidence therefore.

  4. To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.

    “After that night in the church, I believed.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan (“to believe”), from Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan (“to believe”), equivalent to be- + leave (“to give leave or permission to, permit, allow, grant”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
understandfeelseebuyswallowcredittrusthold
Opposite
disbelievedoubtmistrustdistrustsuspect

BELIEVE is a common verb for accepting a claim as true, trusting someone’s words, or holding an idea to be factual. Its meaning leaves room for uncertainty: believing is not the same as knowing. The seven-letter spelling has three E tiles, and its familiar sound links it to words such as ACHIEVE and SLEEVE.

Believe meaning at a glance

  • Believe means accepting a claim as true without knowing it for certain.
  • Use believe to express trust: “I believe you.”
  • BELIEVE scores 12 Scrabble points before board bonuses.
  • BELIEVE has no anagrams in the word-game lists.
  • RELIEVE is its only one-letter neighbour.

What does BELIEVE mean in use?

BELIEVE describes accepting something as true, especially when you lack absolute certainty. “I believe the report” says you accept its claim; it does not say you have proved it.

Use the verb for trust in a person, too: “I believe you” means you accept that the speaker is telling the truth. That sense makes BELIEVE more personal than a bare statement of opinion.

BELIEVE can also describe persuasion: someone was persuaded to accept a claim despite insufficient evidence. The word therefore signals acceptance, not proof, which separates believing from knowing.

BELIEVE meaning, score and sound

BELIEVE scores 12 points in Scrabble from B worth 3, V worth 4, and five other tiles worth 1 each. The two higher-value consonants carry most of the score; the repeated E tiles keep the rest low.

Changing the first letter gives RELIEVE, the sole one-letter neighbour. That close spelling is easy to overlook when you are checking a rack, but it is the only listed word one tile away from BELIEVE.

BELIEVE has 12 rhymes, including ACHIEVE, SLEEVE, RELIEVE, GRIEVE, and RETRIEVE. The believe meaning is about accepting a claim, while those rhymes offer sound matches rather than interchangeable definitions. BELIEVE has no anagrams, so rearranging its tiles produces no listed alternative.

Rhymes with believe

All rhymes
  • ACHIEVE15
  • SLEEVE9
  • RELIEVE10
  • RETRIEVE11
  • GRIEVE10
  • SIEVE8
  • REEVE8
  • REPRIEVE13
  • PEEVE10
  • NEVE7
  • CLEVE10
  • DISBELIEVE16

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • RELIEVE10

Questions people ask

Is BELIEVE a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, BELIEVE is accepted in Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE. It is a seven-letter verb meaning to accept something as true, often without complete certainty. Check your game’s word list if it uses a different dictionary; acceptance can vary between editions.
How many points is BELIEVE worth in Scrabble?
BELIEVE is worth 12 points before any board bonuses. Its B is worth 3 and its V is worth 4, while each of the five remaining tiles is worth 1. A premium square can change the play’s total.
What word is one letter away from BELIEVE?
RELIEVE is the only one-letter neighbour of BELIEVE. Both words share the ending “ELIEVE,” with the first letter changed. RELIEVE is also among BELIEVE’s rhymes, along with ACHIEVE, SLEEVE, and GRIEVE.

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