disbelieve
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /dɪsˈbɪliːv/
KK: /dɪsˈbɪliv/
intransitive verb
Definition
To refuse to accept that something is true or real.
Example
She chose to disbelieve the rumors about her friend.
Tense Forms
Past: disbelieved
Past Participle: disbelieved
Conversation
I heard a rumor that Sarah won the lottery, but I can’t disbelieve it.
Really? That sounds too good to be true!
Exactly! I just can't imagine her being that lucky.
Same here, I would disbelieve it if I didn’t hear it from her.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
doubt
question
dispute
Antonyms
believe
accept
trust
transitive verb
Definition
To refuse to accept that something is true or real.
Example
She chose to disbelieve the rumors about her friend.
Tense Forms
Past: disbelieved
Past Participle: disbelieved
Conversation
I just heard a story about a guy who survived a plane crash and walked home.
That sounds unbelievable! I can't disbelieve it without more details.
I know, right? It’s hard to imagine someone going through that.
Root Explanation
Disbelieve → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart or away) and "believe" (from Old English "beliefan", meaning to have faith or trust). The word "disbelieve" means to have no faith or trust in something.
Memory Tip
Think of 'dis-' meaning apart, and 'believe' meaning to have faith. This helps you remember that disbelieve means to have no faith in something.
Visually Confused Words
misbelieve
misbeliever
believe