belief
B1Neutral to formal. Common in everyday, academic, and religious discourse.
Definition
Meaning
A mental acceptance that something is true or exists, often without complete proof.
A principle, idea, or tenet that one holds as true, especially one that forms part of a system of religious faith or personal conviction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often involves trust, faith, or confidence. Exists on a continuum from weak opinion to strong conviction. Can be used for factual, religious, or ideological acceptance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling is consistent. Use of definite articles may vary slightly in set phrases (e.g., 'against my better belief/judgment' is rare but slightly more common in BrE).
Connotations
Identical. Core religious and secular meanings are shared.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
belief in [something/someone]belief that [clause][adjective] beliefhold/harbour a beliefVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Beyond belief”
- “To the best of my belief”
- “Contrary to popular belief”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to confidence in a strategy, product, or market (e.g., 'a belief in sustainable growth').
Academic
Used to discuss theoretical positions, paradigms, or hypotheses (e.g., 'challenging long-held beliefs').
Everyday
Common for personal opinions, trust in people, or general assumptions (e.g., 'my belief is that he'll be late').
Technical
In philosophy/psychology, a propositional attitude held to be true.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I believe he's arriving at half eight.
- They don't believe in that sort of thing.
American English
- I believe he's arriving at eight-thirty.
- They don't believe in that kind of thing.
adverb
British English
- He spoke believably about his experiences.
- It's a believably crafted story.
American English
- She argued her case very believably.
- The special effects were believably real.
adjective
British English
- He was a deeply believing man.
- The believing public supported the cause.
American English
- He was a true believer.
- The faithful, believing audience listened intently.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a belief that learning English is important.
- Her belief in magic is strong.
- It is my firm belief that honesty is the best policy.
- His religious beliefs are very important to him.
- Contrary to popular belief, not all snakes are dangerous.
- The theory challenges long-held scientific beliefs.
- The politician's actions were incongruous with his publicly stated beliefs.
- Her unshakeable belief in his innocence sustained her through the ordeal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LIE' in the middle of 'beLIEf'. A belief can feel true even if it contains a lie.
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEF IS AN OBJECT POSSESSED (hold a belief), BELIEF IS A CONTAINER (deep-seated belief), BELIEF IS A JOURNEY (led by his beliefs).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not synonymous with 'поверие' (which implies superstition).
- Closer to 'убеждение' (conviction) or 'вера' (faith).
- Do not confuse with 'believe' (verb).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'believes' (correct: 'beliefs').
- Confusing 'belief' (noun) with 'believe' (verb) in sentence structure.
- Misspelling as 'beleif'.
- Using 'on' instead of 'in' (e.g., 'belief on science' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'belief'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'belief' is often held more deeply and firmly, sometimes without need for proof, and can be religious or ideological. An 'opinion' is a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily as firmly held.
The plural is 'beliefs'. 'Believes' is the third person singular present tense of the verb 'to believe'.
The correct preposition is 'in' (e.g., 'belief in God', 'belief in democracy'). 'On' is incorrect in this context.
No, 'belief' is only a noun. The verb form is 'believe'.
Collections
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