belief

noun

bi-LEEF/bɪˈliːf/

Pluralbeliefs

6 meanings of belief

Practice

1
nouncountable or uncountable
Mental acceptance that a claim or statement is true.
His belief that the earth was flat persisted despite the evidence.
Scientific belief should rest on repeatable observation.
Similarconviction, view, opinion
Oppositedisbelief, doubt
2
nouncountable
An idea or opinion accepted as true by a person or group.
Many of their beliefs were passed down through generations.
She defended each belief with careful argument.
Similarview, opinion, conviction, tenet
3
nouncountable or uncountableplural
The religious or moral convictions a person holds.
Working on Sundays goes against his religious beliefs.
Freedom of belief is protected under the constitution.
Similarconviction, faith, creed
4
noununcountable
Faith in the teachings or truths of a religion.
Belief carried the pilgrims across thousands of miles.
For many people, belief offers meaning beyond daily life.
Similarfaith
Oppositeunbelief
5
nouncountable or uncountable
Faith or trust in the reality of something, often grounded in one's own reasoning, trust, hope, or the evidence considered.
Their belief in the project's success drove every decision.
Belief in ghosts varies widely between cultures.
Similarfaith, confidence, trust
Oppositedoubt, disbelief, skepticism
6
noununcountable
The quality or state of believing something.
The capacity for belief seems to be part of human nature.
Belief and doubt often exist side by side in the same mind.
Similarfaith
Oppositedoubt, disbelief

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Origin

From Middle English bileve, from Old English lēafa, going back to Proto-West Germanic *laubu and Proto-Germanic *laubō, and related to German Glaube ("faith, belief"). The final /v/ became /f/ by analogy with noun-verb pairs like grief : grieve and proof : prove, giving belief : believe.