disbelieve: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “disbelieve” mean?
to not believe something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to not believe something; to reject as untrue.
To withhold belief, to regard something with skepticism, to refuse or be unable to accept something as factual. It often implies an active intellectual rejection rather than a simple lack of belief.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. UK English may use 'cannot' vs US 'can't' in formal writing, but the verb form is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties; slightly more likely to be found in UK formal writing.
Frequency
More frequent in written than spoken language in both varieties. The noun 'disbelief' is more common than the verb.
Grammar
How to Use “disbelieve” in a Sentence
[NP] disbelieve [NP] (transitive)be disbelieved (passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disbelieve” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- After hearing the improbable excuse, she could only disbelieve it.
- The committee found the report's conclusions difficult to disbelieve.
American English
- I disbelieve every word of his testimony.
- It's hard to disbelieve the video evidence.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; more likely 'do not accept the figures' or 'question the data'.
Academic
Used in philosophy, critical theory, and rhetoric to describe a stance of methodological skepticism.
Everyday
Used when reacting to an incredible story: "I disbelieved every word he said."
Technical
In legal contexts: 'The jury disbelieved the witness's alibi.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disbelieve”
- Using intransitively without a clear implied object (e.g., 'I disbelieved' - disbelieved what?). Confusing with 'disagree with'. *'I disbelieve in ghosts' is less idiomatic than 'I don't believe in ghosts'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is less common in everyday speech than 'not believe' or 'doubt', and is considered more formal.
The noun form is 'disbelief'.
It is grammatically possible but often awkward. The object is usually implied from context (e.g., 'When he told me, I simply disbelieved').
'Disbelieve' often implies a more active, conscious rejection of a specific claim after considering it. 'Not believe' can be a more general state of lack of belief.
to not believe something.
Disbelieve is usually formal in register.
Disbelieve: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsbəˈliv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a story you cannot disbelieve”
- “to suspend disbelief”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DIS-BELIEVE = The opposite of BELIEVE. DIS- means 'not' or 'opposite of'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEF IS ACCEPTANCE/TRUTH, DISBELIEF IS REJECTION/A BARRIER.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is CLOSEST in meaning to 'disbelieve'?