Believe vs. Think — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 16, 2024
Believe often implies a level of faith or conviction without absolute proof, while think suggests a more reasoned or analytical process of forming an opinion or conclusion.
Difference Between Believe and Think
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Belief often involves a sense of trust or confidence in a statement, principle, or doctrine without needing empirical evidence, whereas thinking is generally associated with reasoning, reflecting, or considering facts and observations before forming a judgment or opinion.
While belief is more closely related to emotional or spiritual conviction and may not always require logical justification, thinking is typically rooted in logic, analysis, and critical assessment, often leading to a more tentative conclusion based on available evidence.
Beliefs are often deeply ingrained and can be influenced by cultural, societal, or personal values and experiences, on the other hand, thoughts are more fluid, can change with new information, and are more consciously controlled.
Beliefs can shape one's identity and worldview, often serving as a foundation for decision-making and behavior, whereas thoughts are more transient and can vary significantly based on the context or situation.
While beliefs can be challenged by contradictory evidence or new perspectives, it often requires a significant emotional or intellectual shift, in contrast, thoughts are more easily revised or abandoned in light of new evidence or better reasoning.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially without proof
An opinion or conclusion formed based on information or reasoning
Basis
Faith, trust, or confidence
Reason, analysis, or evidence
Nature
Emotional or spiritual
Logical or analytical
Flexibility
Often deep-seated and resistant to change
More adaptable and open to change
Influence
Cultural, societal, or personal values
Information, observation, and analysis
Compare with Definitions
Believe
Acceptance of truth without proof.
She believes in the inherent goodness of people.
Think
Forming opinions or conclusions from reasoning.
I think this is the best course of action.
Believe
Can be influenced by emotions.
They believe in love at first sight.
Think
Dependent on the situation or context.
I think differently about it now than I did last year.
Believe
Reflects personal or cultural values.
We believe in honesty and integrity.
Think
Involves analysis and logic.
They think through problems logically.
Believe
Often linked to faith or spirituality.
He believes in a higher power.
Think
Relies on evidence or facts.
She thinks the suspect is innocent based on the alibi.
Believe
Harder to alter than thoughts.
Her belief in justice is unshakeable.
Think
Opinions can change with new information.
He changed what he thinks after the discussion.
Believe
Accept that (something) is true, especially without proof
The superintendent believed Lancaster's story
Some 23 per cent believe that smoking keeps down weight
Think
To have or formulate in the mind
Think the happiest thought you can think.
Believe
Hold (something) as an opinion; think
I believe we've already met
Four men were believed to be trapped
Think
To reason about or reflect on; ponder
Think how complex language is. Think the matter through.
Believe
To accept (something) as true or real
Do you believe his version of what happened?.
Think
To decide by reasoning, reflection, or pondering
Thinking what to do.
Believe
To consider (someone) to be truthful or accurate in what they are saying
I believe you when you say that your neighbor is angry.
Think
To judge or regard; look upon
I think it only fair.
Believe
To expect or suppose; think
I believe it will snow tomorrow. I believe the letters to be authentic.
Think
To believe; suppose
Always thought he was right.
Believe
To have religious faith
He believes in God.
Think
To expect; hope
They thought she'd arrive early.
Believe
To have faith, confidence, or trust
I believe in your ability to solve the problem.
Think
To intend
She thinks to defeat the incumbent in the election.
Believe
To consider something to be important, worthwhile, or valuable
I believe in free speech.
Think
To call to mind; remember
I can't think what her name was.
Believe
(transitive) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.
I believe there are faeries.
Think
To visualize; imagine
Think what a scene it will be at the reunion.
Believe
(transitive) To accept that someone is telling the truth.
Why did I ever believe you?
Think
To devise or evolve; invent
Thought up a plan to get rich quick.
Believe
(intransitive) To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
After that night in the church, I believed.
Think
To bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation
He thought himself into a panic over the impending examination.
Believe
To opine, think, reckon.
Do you think this is good? —Hmm, I believe it's okay.
Think
To concentrate one's thoughts on; keep as a point of focus
Think victory.
Believe
To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I nowOf force believe almighty).
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?
Often followed by a dependent clause.I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Think
To exercise the power of reason, as by conceiving ideas, drawing inferences, and using judgment
My cold made it difficult to think.
Believe
To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
Think
To consider or weigh an idea
They are thinking about moving.
Believe
To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you.
Think
To bring a thought to mind by using the imagination
No one before had thought of bifocal glasses.
Believe
Accept as true; take to be true;
I believed his report
We didn't believe his stories from the War
She believes in spirits
Think
To recall a thought or an image to mind
She thought of her childhood when she saw the movie.
Believe
Judge or regard; look upon; judge;
I think he is very smart
I believe her to be very smart
I think that he is her boyfriend
The racist conceives such people to be inferior
Think
To have a belief, supposition, or opinion
He thinks of himself as a wit. It's later than you think.
Believe
Be confident about something;
I believe that he will come back from the war
Think
To have care or consideration
Think first of the ones you love.
Believe
Follow a credo; have a faith; be a believer;
When you hear his sermons, you will be able to believe, too
Think
To use the mind in a certain way
He thinks just like you do—always worrying.
Believe
Credit with veracity;
You cannot believe this man
Should we believe a publication like the National Inquirer?
Think
Requiring much thought to create or assimilate
A think book.
Think
The act or an instance of deliberate or extended thinking; a meditation.
Think
(transitive) To ponder, to go over in one's head.
Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be.
Think
(intransitive) To communicate to oneself in one's mind, to try to find a solution to a problem.
I thought for three hours about the problem and still couldn’t find the solution.
Think
(intransitive) To conceive of something or someone (usually followed by of; infrequently, by on).
I tend to think of her as rather ugly.
Think
(transitive) To be of opinion (that); to consider, judge, regard, or look upon (something) as.
At the time I thought his adamant refusal to give in right.
I hope you won’t think me stupid if I ask you what that means.
I think she is pretty, contrary to most people.
Boxing is thought to be a dangerous sport.
Think
(transitive) To guess; to reckon.
I think she’ll pass the examination.
Think
To plan; to be considering; to be of a mind (to do something).
Think
To presume; to venture.
Think
To seem, to appear.
Think
An act of thinking; consideration (of something).
I'll have a think about that and let you know.
Think
To seem or appear; - used chiefly in the expressions methinketh or methinks, and methought.
Think
To employ any of the intellectual powers except that of simple perception through the senses; to exercise the higher intellectual faculties.
For that I amI know, because I think.
Think
To call anything to mind; to remember; as, I would have sent the books, but I did not think of it.
Well thought upon; I have it here.
Think
To reflect upon any subject; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to consider; to deliberate.
And when he thought thereon, he wept.
He thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Think
To form an opinion by reasoning; to judge; to conclude; to believe; as, I think it will rain to-morrow.
Let them marry to whom they think best.
Think
To purpose; to intend; to design; to mean.
I thought to promote thee unto great honor.
Thou thought'st to help me.
Think
To presume; to venture.
Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.
Think
To conceive; to imagine.
Charity . . . thinketh no evil.
Think
To plan or design; to plot; to compass.
So little womanhoodAnd natural goodness, as to think the deathOf her own son.
Think
To believe; to consider; to esteem.
Nor think superfluous other's aid.
Think
Act of thinking; a thought.
Think
An instance of deliberate thinking;
I need to give it a good think
Think
Judge or regard; look upon; judge;
I think he is very smart
I believe her to be very smart
I think that he is her boyfriend
The racist conceives such people to be inferior
Think
Expect, believe, or suppose;
I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
I thought to find her in a bad state
He didn't think to find her in the kitchen
I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
Think
Use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments;
I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere
Think
Recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection;
I can't remember saying any such thing
I can't think what her last name was
Can you remember her phone number?
Do you remember that he once loved you?
Call up memories
Think
Imagine or visualize;
Just think--you could be rich one day!
Think what a scene it must have been!
Think
Focus one's attention on a certain state;
Think big
Think thin
Think
Have in mind as a purpose;
I mean no harm
I only meant to help you
She didn't think to harm me
We thought to return early that night
Think
Decide by pondering, reasoning, or reflecting;
Can you think what to do next?
Think
Ponder; reflect on, or reason about;
Think the matter through
Think how hard life in Russia must be these days
Think
Dispose the mind in a certain way;
Do you really think so?
Think
Have or formulate in the mind;
Think good thoughts
Think
Be capable of conscious thought;
Man is the only creature that thinks
Think
Bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation;
She thought herself into a state of panic over the final exam
Common Curiosities
Why do beliefs vary widely among people?
Beliefs can vary due to differences in cultural, societal, personal values, and experiences.
Is thinking always logical?
While thinking is generally logical and based on reasoning, it can be influenced by biases, emotions, and other non-logical factors.
Can beliefs change over time?
Yes, beliefs can change with new experiences, information, or insights, although they are often more resistant to change than thoughts.
Do beliefs affect behavior?
Yes, beliefs can strongly influence an individual's behavior and decision-making.
Is there a relationship between belief and knowledge?
Belief and knowledge are related, but knowledge is typically based on evidence and truth, while belief may not require evidence.
How do emotions influence beliefs and thoughts?
Emotions can strongly influence both beliefs and thoughts, sometimes leading to biased or irrational conclusions.
Can thinking lead to belief?
Yes, thinking and reasoning about information or experiences can lead to the formation of new beliefs.
How does thinking differ from believing?
Thinking involves reasoning and forming conclusions based on evidence, while believing is accepting something as true, often without evidence.
Can you think something is true but not believe it?
Yes, it is possible to think something is logically true based on evidence, while not personally holding it as a belief, especially if it conflicts with existing beliefs.
What does it mean to believe in something?
Believing in something means accepting it as true or real, often without needing proof or evidence.
How do personal experiences affect beliefs and thoughts?
Personal experiences can profoundly shape both beliefs and thoughts, influencing how information is interpreted and what is accepted as true.
Can beliefs be harmful?
Beliefs can be harmful if they lead to negative actions, discrimination, or close-mindedness, underscoring the importance of critical thinking and openness to new ideas.
Are beliefs always based on religion or spirituality?
No, beliefs can be based on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to religion or spirituality.
Is it easier to change a belief or a thought?
It is generally easier to change a thought, as thoughts are more flexible and open to new information, whereas beliefs are often deeper and more resistant to change.
How do societal norms influence beliefs?
Societal norms can play a significant role in shaping beliefs by establishing what is considered acceptable, true, or valuable in a community.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Copying vs. Moving
Next Comparison
Koi vs. CarpAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
