belies: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “belies” mean?
To give a false impression of.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To give a false impression of; to contradict or show to be false.
To fail to give a true notion or impression of something; to disguise or conceal the true nature or existence of something. Often refers to an appearance that contradicts a reality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling of related words follows regional conventions (e.g., belied, belying).
Connotations
Carries the same connotations of contradiction and hidden truth in both varieties. Slightly more common in formal British writing.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but consistent in formal registers. Slightly higher relative frequency in UK academic prose.
Grammar
How to Use “belies” in a Sentence
[Subject] belies [Object][Appearance/Nature] belies [Reality/Truth]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “belies” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His gentle tone belies a fierce intellect.
- The modest shopfront belies the luxury within.
- The data belies the government's optimistic claims.
American English
- Her calm belies the intense pressure she's under.
- The team's low ranking belies their actual skill.
- His youthful look belies his decades of experience.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The company's strong brand belies its underlying financial instability,' the analyst reported.
Academic
The archaeological evidence belies the traditional historical narrative of a sudden cultural collapse.
Everyday
Her cheerful demeanour belies how difficult things have been for her lately.
Technical
The initial simulation output belies the model's inherent instability under edge-case conditions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “belies”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “belies”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “belies”
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'a belie').
- Confusing it with 'believes'.
- Incorrect: 'His anger belies that he is upset.' (Redundant; should point to a contradictory state, e.g., 'His calm belies his anger.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Belie' comes from Old English 'belēogan' (to deceive by lying), but its modern meaning is not 'to tell a lie about' but 'to show to be false; to contradict'. The connection to falsehood is historical.
Yes, but typically not in the sense of a person telling a lie. It is used where a person's appearance or manner gives a false impression. E.g., 'His gruff voice belies a kind heart.'
The subject is often an outward appearance, impression, statistic, or piece of evidence (e.g., calm, smile, data, figure) that contradicts the true situation (the object).
There is no commonly used direct noun form. Related concepts are 'contradiction', 'discrepancy', or 'misrepresentation'.
To give a false impression of.
Belies is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Belies: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈlaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈlaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The smile that belies the pain”
- “A calm exterior that belies inner turmoil”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BELIES = Behind the LIES. What you see lies; the truth is behind it.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS A FALSE COVER (over reality). SURFACE IS DECEPTIVE.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'belies' used CORRECTLY?