belie

/bɪˈlaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈlaɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈlī bē-/ (ame, mw)

belie — verb

  • beliepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • belieshe / she / it
  • beliedpast simple
  • belying-ing form

1. to prove that a statement, belief, or claim is not true by providing facts or ev

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to prove that a statement, belief, or claim is not true by providing facts or evidence that clearly go against it.

例句

The latest economic figures belie the government's claims of a strong recovery.

figures belie, government's claims

There was a cheerfulness in Kavya's voice that belied the difficult situation at her home.

同義詞
  • contradict

    the closest general synonym; 'contradict' is less literary and more common in everyday speech

  • disprove

    emphasises proving a specific claim wrong, often through logical argument rather than evidence

  • refute

    more formal than 'disprove'; implies using reasoned argument to prove an idea false

反義詞
  • confirm

    to show that a belief or statement is true rather than false

  • support

    to provide evidence that strengthens a claim rather than weakening it

文法句型

belie + noun phrase (a claim, statement, fact, belief, account)

用法筆記

The subject is usually a fact, statistic, piece of evidence, or observable situation — something objective that contradicts a verbal claim.

常見錯誤

❌The results belied with the theory.
✅The results belied the theory.
💡'belie' is transitive; no preposition is needed.

2. to hide a real feeling, emotion, quality, or intention so that other people do n

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to hide a real feeling, emotion, quality, or intention so that other people do not notice it, often by showing a different outward appearance.

例句

Jamal's relaxed posture belied his nervousness about the job interview.

posture belied, nervousness

The bright colours of the painting belie the sadness of its subject matter.

同義詞
  • mask

    more common; 'mask' implies a deliberate effort to hide, while 'belie' can be unintentional

  • disguise

    suggests active concealment; 'disguise' is less literary than 'belie'

  • hide

    simpler and more direct; lacks the contrast-between-appearance-and-reality nuance of 'belie'

反義詞
  • reveal

    to show a true feeling or quality instead of hiding it

  • betray

    to unintentionally show a true feeling — the opposite of hiding it

文法句型

belie + noun phrase (a feeling, emotion, quality, nature)

用法筆記

This sense of 'belie' contrasts an outward appearance (expression, tone, posture, decoration) with a hidden truth (emotion, quality, condition). Common in literary and descriptive writing.

常見錯誤

❌He belied his sadness with a smile.
✅His smile belied his sadness.
💡'belie' is used the other way round: the appearance (smile) belies the truth (sadness), not the other way.