Belie
/bɪˈlaɪ/
verbC2
Definition
"Belie" means to give a wrong idea about something or to show that something is not true. When something belies another thing, it hides the real truth or shows a difference between what is expected and what actually is. It is often used when appearances or statements do not match facts.
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See It in Action
To give a false idea or impression of something
- •His calm face belies the nervousness he feels inside.
- •The small size of the box belies the heavy weight inside.
- •Her cheerful words belied her true feelings of sadness.
To show that something is not true or wrong
- •The evidence belies the suspect’s story.
- •The facts belied the company's claims about safety.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "belie" like "hide" (A1 word), but instead of just covering, it shows a false or opposite idea
- ✓Picture a mask that looks happy but hides a sad face underneath
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says they are fine, but their face shows they are sad or worried
- ✓Sounds like "be-LIE" → imagine someone telling a lie that covers the truth, but not exactly lying, just hiding the real meaning
- ✓Think of a story where a calm sea belies a dangerous storm underneath—looks safe but is not
- ✓NOT like "show" (which reveals true facts); "belie" hides or gives a false impression
- ✓NOT like "lie" (which means telling something untrue on purpose); "belie" can be accidental or natural, not always on purpose
Try Other Words
- •Contradict: to say or show that something is not true (Use when something directly opposes or disagrees with a statement)
- •Disguise: to change appearance to hide the truth (Use when the focus is on changing how something looks)
- •Mask: to cover or hide feelings or facts (Use when hiding emotions or facts deliberately)
- •Misrepresent: to give a wrong or false idea (Use when information is given incorrectly, often on purpose)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root word "belie"
- •Etymology: From Old English "belēogan" meaning "to deceive, lie about"
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to mean to give a false impression or to lie about something
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in formal or literary language to describe when something does not match or hides the truth
- •Key insight: The word often involves a difference between appearance and reality, showing a hidden truth
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when someone's words or actions belied their true feelings? How did you notice?
•How does the idea of something "belieing" help us understand the difference between appearance and reality in everyday life?
Fill in the blanks
1.His confident speech belies the ___ he feels inside when speaking in public.
2.The quiet neighborhood belies the ___ activity happening behind closed doors.
3.When her smile belies her sadness, it means she is ___ her true emotions.
4.The report belies the company's claim that the product is ___.
5.A small, simple house can belie the ___ wealth of its owner.
6.The calm weather belies the ___ storm coming later that day.
7.If someone's actions belie their words, it means their behavior ___ what they say.