Beliefs

/bɪˈliːfs/

nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

Acceptance of something as true, even without proof.

/bɪˈliːfs/

nounneutralBeginner
General

An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.

Her beliefs shaped her decisions.

💡 Simply: What someone thinks is true.

More Examples

2

Religious beliefs vary widely across cultures.

How It's Used

Philosophy

"His beliefs about the nature of reality were quite unique."

Religion

"The core beliefs of Christianity center around faith and salvation."

Idioms & expressions

beyond belief

Incredibly unbelievable or shocking.

"The news was beyond belief."

From Middle English *beleve, from Old English *gelyfan, from Proto-Germanic *gelōbjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷleubʰ-. The word's development reflects a shift from a primarily religious context to a broader understanding encompassing personal convictions.

The word 'belief' has historically been strongly tied to religious faith. However, its secular usage has greatly expanded over time to encompass a wide spectrum of convictions.

Memory tip

Think of 'be-lieve' as becoming convinced.

beleifsbelifesbeleeves

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written