belief
A belief is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists, often without absolute proof. It also refers to a firm conviction or trust in the value or truth of someone or something.
A belief is a mental conviction that something is true, serving as a foundation for personal values and actions.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Acceptance that something is true or real.
- Confidence or trust in a person or idea.
- A core principle or religious tenet held by someone.
Summary
A belief is a mental conviction that something is true, serving as a foundation for personal values and actions.
- Acceptance that something is true or real.
- Confidence or trust in a person or idea.
- A core principle or religious tenet held by someone.
Use 'belief in' for trust
When you want to say you have confidence in someone's potential, always use the preposition 'in' after belief.
Avoid confusing belief and faith
Use 'faith' for unquestioning or spiritual trust, and 'belief' for general convictions or accepted truths.
Beliefs shape cultural identity
In many cultures, shared beliefs are the primary way groups bond and define their social moral codes.
Beispiele
4 von 4His belief in honesty made him a respected leader.
The document outlines the core beliefs of the organization.
It's my belief that we should leave early to avoid traffic.
The study examines the relationship between religious belief and social behavior.
Wortfamilie
Merkhilfe
Remember that 'belief' contains the word 'lie' in the middle, but a true belief is something you think is NOT a lie.
Overview
The word 'belief' functions as a central pillar in human psychology, sociology, and philosophy. It describes the mental state of holding a proposition or premise to be true. Unlike knowledge, which often implies empirical evidence or objective verification, a belief can be subjective, personal, or based on tradition and faith. It is the internal foundation upon which people build their worldview and make decisions.
Usage Patterns
'Belief' is most commonly used with the preposition 'in' when referring to the existence of something or trust in a person (e.g., 'belief in ghosts' or 'belief in a friend'). It is also frequently followed by a 'that' clause to specify the content of the conviction (e.g., 'the belief that education is vital'). As a countable noun, it can be pluralized to 'beliefs' when discussing a set of principles or religious dogmas.
Common Contexts
You will encounter 'belief' in religious discussions to describe faith in a deity, in political science to describe ideologies, and in everyday conversation to express personal opinions or confidence. In a scientific context, it may refer to a hypothesis that is held before it is proven. It is also used in legal and formal settings to describe a person's sincere conviction regarding a fact.
Similar Words Comparison
'Belief' is often compared to 'faith' and 'opinion.' While 'faith' usually implies a strong religious or spiritual conviction that does not require proof, 'belief' can be more secular or logic-based. An 'opinion' is generally considered less firm than a belief; opinions are preferences or views that are easily changed, whereas beliefs are often deeply rooted and harder to alter. 'Conviction' is a stronger form of belief, suggesting a certainty that has been tested or deeply considered.
Nutzungshinweise
The word 'belief' is neutral and can be used in any register. In academic writing, it often refers to a system of thought, while in casual speech, it often introduces a personal opinion.
Häufige Fehler
A common error is using the plural 'believes' (which is a verb form) when the speaker intends to use the plural noun 'beliefs'. Another mistake is omitting the preposition 'in' when expressing trust.
Merkhilfe
Remember that 'belief' contains the word 'lie' in the middle, but a true belief is something you think is NOT a lie.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Middle English 'beleaf', which comes from the Old English 'geleafa', meaning trust or faith.
Kultureller Kontext
In Western philosophy, 'justified true belief' is a traditional definition of knowledge, showing how central this word is to how we understand truth.
Beispiele
His belief in honesty made him a respected leader.
everydayThe document outlines the core beliefs of the organization.
formalIt's my belief that we should leave early to avoid traffic.
informalThe study examines the relationship between religious belief and social behavior.
academicWortfamilie
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
to the best of my belief
contrary to popular belief
firm belief
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Believe is the verb (action), while belief is the noun (the thing itself).
Faith often implies a religious or total trust without need for evidence, whereas belief is broader.
Grammatikmuster
Use 'belief in' for trust
When you want to say you have confidence in someone's potential, always use the preposition 'in' after belief.
Avoid confusing belief and faith
Use 'faith' for unquestioning or spiritual trust, and 'belief' for general convictions or accepted truths.
Beliefs shape cultural identity
In many cultures, shared beliefs are the primary way groups bond and define their social moral codes.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form.
It is my firm ___ that we will succeed.
The sentence requires a noun to follow the adjective 'firm'.
Choose the correct preposition.
She has a strong belief ___ the power of meditation.
The standard collocation is 'belief in' something.
Order the words to form a correct sentence.
beyond / His / was / cruelty / belief
This follows the standard subject-verb-complement structure using the idiom 'beyond belief'.
Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenBelief is a noun referring to the idea or conviction itself, while believe is the verb describing the action of holding that conviction.
Yes, 'beliefs' is the plural form used when referring to multiple ideas or a system of principles.
No, while it is common in religion, a belief can be about anything, such as a belief in scientific progress or a belief in one's own abilities.
It is an idiom used to describe something that is so incredible, extreme, or shocking that it is difficult to accept as true.
