could believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could believe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a hypothetical situation where someone is able to accept or trust something as true. Example: "If the evidence were stronger, I could believe that the theory is valid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nobody could believe it.

The Guardian - Music

I wanted characters I could believe in".

The New York Times - Books

"Nobody could believe what they were watching".

The New York Times - Sports

No reasonable observer could believe so.

The Economist

If only the children could believe it.

The New York Times

"Nobody in the area could believe it.

The New York Times

I wish I could believe it.

The New York Times

No one could believe it".

The New York Times

I could believe in him.

The Guardian

No astronomer could believe this.

The Guardian

I could believe in it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the degree of certainty you want to convey. "Could believe" suggests possibility, but not necessarily certainty. If you want to express a stronger sense of belief, use phrases like "do believe" or "certainly believe".

Common error

Avoid using "could believe" in vague contexts where the reason for potential belief is unclear. Instead of saying "I could believe it", specify why you might believe it: "I could believe it if I saw proof."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could believe" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or potential to accept something as true. It often suggests a conditional or hypothetical scenario, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples. It implies that belief is contingent upon certain factors or evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could believe" is a versatile expression indicating the possibility or potential for acceptance, often contingent on certain conditions. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and widely used, with a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. While "could believe" is frequently employed in news and media, ensuring clarity by specifying the conditions for belief is crucial. Alternatives such as "might believe" or "may accept" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember that this construction doesn't express certainty but a conditional possibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might believe

Replaces "could" with "might", indicating a slightly lower degree of possibility or certainty.

may believe

Substitutes "could" with "may", suggesting a possibility that is perhaps less likely than with "might".

can accept

Focuses on the acceptance aspect, using "can" to denote the ability to accept something as true.

find credible

Shifts the focus to the credibility of something, implying that one could believe it because it is believable.

deem plausible

Uses more formal language, suggesting that something could be believed because it is reasonable and likely.

consider believable

Emphasizes the act of considering something as worthy of belief.

conceive of as true

Highlights the mental act of regarding something as true.

take as gospel

Implies believing something without question, often used ironically.

swallow whole

Suggests believing something naively or without critical thought.

fall for

Informal expression for being tricked into believing something.

FAQs

How to use "could believe" in a sentence?

"Could believe" indicates a possibility of accepting something as true, often depending on certain conditions. For example, "I "could believe" his excuse if he had a valid reason for being late."

What can I say instead of "could believe"?

You can use alternatives like "might believe", "may accept", or "find credible" depending on the context. For instance, "I "might believe" that if there was more evidence".

Which is correct, "could believe" or "can believe"?

"Could believe" expresses a hypothetical or conditional possibility, while "can believe" indicates a present ability to believe. "I "could believe" it if he showed me the documents" implies a condition, while "I "can believe" it" means you currently find it believable.

What's the difference between "could believe" and "would believe"?

"Could believe" suggests the possibility of believing something under certain circumstances, while "would believe" indicates a willingness or inclination to believe if certain conditions were met. The first suggests a possibility and the second suggests a preference or inclination. 'I "could believe" it, if I saw it' (possibility), versus 'I "would believe" it if he told me' (inclination).