What does "belie" mean?
To lie around; encompass.
Belie
/bɪˈlaɪ/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To lie around; encompass.
- Grammar: belie is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: misrepresent, abjure, assert the contrary, be contrary to.
- Useful contrasts: appear for the exam, augurs, appeared.
- Usage evidence: Tom was whistling in the dark to belie how terrified he was to be alone in the house which was rumoured to be haunted.
How to use "belie"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "belie" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "belie" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "belie" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "belie" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "belie" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "misrepresent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "belie", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To lie around; encompass. obsolete, transitive
- 2 To tell lies about. archaic, transitive
"Thou do’ſt bely him Percy, thou doſt bely him; / He never did encounter with Glendower:"
- 3 represent falsely wordnet
- 4 To surround; beleaguer. obsolete, transitive
- 5 To give a false representation of. transitive
"Her smooth complexion and dark hair belie her actual age."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 be in contradiction with wordnet
- 7 To contradict, to show (something) to be false. transitive
"Her obvious nervousness belied what she said."
- 8 To call a liar; to accuse of falsehood. rare, transitive
"They haue belyed the Lord, and ſaid; It is not he, neither ſhall euill come vpon vs, neither ſhal we ſee ſwoꝛd noꝛ famine."
- 9 To fill with lies; to lie to. rare, transitive
"No, ’tis Slander, / Whoſe edge is ſharper then the Sword, whoſe tongue / Out-venomes all the Wormes of Nyle, whoſe breath / Rides on the poſting windes, / and doth belye All corners of the World."
- 10 To conceal the contradictory or ironic presence of (something). transitive
"His calm demeanor belied his inner sense of guilt."
- 11 To show, evince or demonstrate (something) to be present, particularly something deemed contradictory or ironic. transitive
"A host of evidence is adduced by the accused, evidence whose sometimes self-contradictory nature belies a certain desperation"
- 12 To mimic; to counterfeit. obsolete
"Which durſt with horſes hoofs that beat the ground / And Martial brass bely the thunders ſound."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Tom was whistling in the dark to belie how terrified he was to be alone in the house which was rumoured to be haunted."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "belie"?
Common synonyms include: misrepresent, abjure, assert the contrary, be contrary to, blow sky-high, blow up.
How do you use "belie" in a sentence?
Tom was whistling in the dark to belie how terrified he was to be alone in the house which was rumoured to be haunted.
How do you pronounce "belie"?
Pronounced /bɪˈlaɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English belyen, beliggen, from Old English beliċġan, biliċġan (“to lie around, surround, hedge in, encompass”), from Proto-West Germanic *biliggjan, from Proto-Germanic *biligjaną (“to lie around”). Equivalent to be- (“around, by”) + lie (“to be positioned”).
Etymology 2
From Middle English belyen, beleoȝen, from Old English belēogan (“to deceive by lying, be mistaken”), from Proto-West Germanic *bileugan (“to belie”). Equivalent to be- (“about”) + lie (“to deceive”). Compare Dutch beliegen (“to lie about, tell lies”), German belügen (“to lie to someone”).