Words / B1

bi-LEEV-uh-bl/bɪˈliːvəbl/

Believable means easy to accept as true. Believe is the verb (already in the dictionary); credible is a close twin, a little more formal. Unbelievable is the opposite (and informal “amazing”). Court: the alibi was not believable.

Meaning

Easy to accept as true.

Examples

• “The alibi was not believable under cross-examination.”
• “A believable source is still not the same as a peer-reviewed paper.”

Good to know

believable + noun / as a complement. Verb: believe. Formal twin: credible. Opposite: unbelievable. Media / court. Not “believably” for the idea (that is the adverb).

Near in meaning

credible

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