To place confidence in someone's ability, character, statement, or chance of success.
Reach for it when affirming trust in a person when that trust can strengthen them
Good mentors believe their learners can improve without pretending progress is easy.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
count on
Fits when dependable future action is expected
Not when admiration without reliance is intended
everyday
Fits when reliance on character or judgment matters
Not when only a factual claim is accepted
warm
have faith in
Fits when confidence persists through uncertainty
Not when available evidence should decide
professional
Fits when support follows from the confidence
Not when belief remains private
formal
credit
Fits when accepting a statement as true is meant
Not when encouraging someone's potential matters
literary
hold confidence in
Fits when measured formal assurance suits the context
Not when plain conversation is preferable
believe in yourself
A handwritten card reminded her, 'Believe in yourself, especially when progress feels slow.'
reason to believe
The steady test results give us reason to believe the design is sound.
truly believe
I truly believe his patient approach will help the new class.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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