Standard Lemma guide

beleave

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /bɪˈliːv/ weak vowel distinction
  • [bɪˈlɪi̯v] weak vowel distinction
  • /biˈliːv/ weak vowel distinction
  • [bɪi̯ˈlɪi̯v] weak vowel distinction
  • /bəˈliːv/ weak vowel merger
  • [bəˈlɪi̯v] weak vowel merger
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːv
  • homophone: believe

1

verb

Meaning 1

To leave behind, abandon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: desert, forsake, abandon, beleave, bug out, forlet, forgo, leave behind, relinquish

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be left; to remain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: continue, stay, abide, beleave, belive, dwell, keep, linger, remain, rest

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English beleven, from Old English belǣfan (“to leave, let remain”), from Proto-Germanic *bilaibijaną. Equivalent to be- + leave. Intransitive use may be influenced by related belive (“to remain”), which see.