believable

adjective

be·​liev·​able bə-ˈlē-və-bəl How to pronounce believable (audio)
: capable of being believed especially as within the range of known possibility or probability
believability noun
believably adverb

Examples of believable in a Sentence

she had a believable excuse for missing the deadline
Recent Examples on the Web Its open world was meant to be populated by believable, virtual dinosaurs. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 Wahlberg infuses his performance with genuine heart, making his character’s falling in love with his new canine companion fully believable. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 This eliminates the need for manual scripting, effectively automating the generation of believable agent behavior. Joanne Chen, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The gay relationship between Nick (Justin Lawrence Barnes) and Brian (Danny Lee Gomez) — which Olive, their easily annoyed downstairs neighbor, is determined to put an end to one way or another — has believable textures but not enough to involve us emotionally. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 One of the most difficult assignments for any director is to not only find a talented child actor, but also evoke a believable performance that doesn’t have to be manufactured in the edit. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 Enemy sprites have been perfected; weapons look believable and somehow feel weightier; lighting has more balance; most impressively, cutscenes have been painstakingly upscaled, and obviously without AI, bringing characters to life but maintaining that retro sheen. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 But the minimalist script allows both actors to act primarily through body language and facial expressions, building a believable chemistry through soft smiles and shy silences. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 How could one author be so adept at weaving believable stories set in foreign lands and at distant times? Sarah Schutte, National Review, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'believable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of believable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near believable

Cite this Entry

“Believable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/believable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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