Knowing vs. Believing: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 4, 2024
Knowing is understanding something with certainty through experience or evidence; believing is accepting something as true without proof.
Key Differences
Knowing implies a clear understanding based on facts or direct experiences, providing a sense of certainty. Believing, however, involves accepting something as true, often without direct proof, relying more on faith or trust.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Knowing often requires evidence or firsthand experience, leading to a conclusion based on observable facts. Believing does not necessarily need empirical evidence; it can be based on personal convictions or external teachings.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Knowing is a cognitive process, involving reasoning and understanding based on knowledge. Believing is more of an emotional or psychological state, where one holds convictions that may not be empirically proven.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Knowledge tends to be more rigid, changing primarily when new evidence or experiences contradict previous understandings. Beliefs can be more flexible, influenced by personal experiences, culture, or persuasion.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Knowing influences decisions through logical reasoning and factual understanding. Believing guides decisions often through intuition, faith, or moral values, even in the absence of concrete knowledge.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb (action/state of understanding or being aware)
Verb (action/state of accepting something as true)
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Jan 04, 2024
Usage in Sentences
Often used to express certainty or familiarity
Commonly used to express faith or trust
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Jan 04, 2024
Common Collocations
Knowing facts, knowing someone, knowing how
Believing in, believing someone, believing that
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Jan 04, 2024
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Knowing and Believing Definitions
Knowing
Having awareness or understanding of facts or truths.
Knowing the truth set her free from doubts.
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Dec 20, 2023
Believing
Holding a conviction or opinion.
She kept believing in her dream, despite challenges.
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Dec 20, 2023
Knowing
Recognizing through observation or experience.
Knowing her well, he could tell she was upset.
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Dec 20, 2023
Believing
Feeling sure of the truth or existence of something.
They were believing in the possibility of a better future.
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Dec 20, 2023
Knowing
Possessing knowledge or information about something.
She was confident in knowing the answers to the quiz.
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Dec 20, 2023
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Believing
Adopting a certain stance or viewpoint.
Believing that education is key, she advocated for reforms.
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Dec 20, 2023
Knowing
Being familiar or well-informed about something.
He prides himself on knowing several languages.
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Dec 20, 2023
Believing
Accepting something as true, especially without proof.
He found comfort in believing her words.
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Dec 20, 2023
Knowing
Possessing knowledge, information, or understanding
Very knowing about transportation costs.
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
Trusting in the reliability or truth of someone or something.
Believing in his integrity, they trusted him completely.
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Dec 20, 2023
Knowing
Showing clever awareness and resourcefulness; shrewd and worldly
"Even so knowing a young ruffian as William Chaloner would have had no preparation for the shock of London" (Thomas Levenson).
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
To accept (something) as true or real
Do you believe his version of what happened?.
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
To consider (someone) to be truthful or accurate in what they are saying
I believe you when you say that your neighbor is angry.
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
To expect or suppose; think
I believe it will snow tomorrow. I believe the letters to be authentic.
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
(Archaic) Fashionable; stylish
"Many young men ... drove about town in very knowing gigs" (Jane Austen).
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
To have faith, confidence, or trust
I believe in your ability to solve the problem.
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
To consider something to be important, worthwhile, or valuable
I believe in free speech.
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Given my knowledge about someone or something.
Knowing you, you would try not to be late for school.
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Dec 13, 2023
Believing
The cognitive process that leads to convictions;
Seeing is believing
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Skilful; well informed; intelligent; as, a knowing man; a knowing dog.
The knowing and intelligent part of the world.
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Knowledge; hence, experience.
This sore nightHath trifled former knowings.
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
By conscious design or purpose;
Intentional damage
A knowing attempt to defraud
A willful waste of time
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Alert and fully informed;
Politically aware
A knowing collector of rare books
The most...technically aware of the novelists under thirty
Surprisingly knowledgeable about what was going on
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Highly educated; having extensive information or understanding;
An enlightened public
Knowing instructors
A knowledgeable critic
A knowledgeable audience
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Dec 13, 2023
Knowing
Acknowledging with certainty based on evidence.
Knowing the risks, they proceeded cautiously.
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Dec 20, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is knowing always accurate?
Knowing is based on current information, which can change with new evidence or insights.
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Jan 04, 2024
Can knowing be intuitive?
While knowing typically involves rational understanding, some forms of knowing can be intuitive.
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Jan 04, 2024
How does culture influence knowing?
Cultural background can shape what is known or how information is understood.
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Jan 04, 2024
Can knowing always be proven?
Generally, knowing can be substantiated with evidence or direct experience.
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Jan 04, 2024
Is believing always religious or spiritual?
Not necessarily; believing can be secular, relating to convictions about non-spiritual matters.
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Jan 04, 2024
Can beliefs change easily?
Beliefs can change, influenced by new experiences, information, or introspection.
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Jan 04, 2024
How do emotions affect believing?
Emotions can strongly influence beliefs, often more than factual evidence.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Can knowing and believing influence decision-making differently?
Yes, knowing and believing can both impact decision-making, with knowing often rooted in evidence and believing influenced by values and emotions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
What does 'knowing' imply in a general sense?
Knowing implies being aware of or understanding something clearly through facts or experience.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
What is the essence of believing?
Believing involves accepting something as true, often without needing empirical proof.
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Jan 04, 2024
Are knowing and believing always in agreement?
No, knowing and believing can sometimes be in conflict, especially when beliefs are not supported by evidence.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Can someone believe in something they know isn’t true?
It's possible, especially in cases where emotions override rational understanding.
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Jan 04, 2024
Can you change a belief into knowledge?
Yes, beliefs can evolve into knowledge when they become supported by evidence or personal experience.
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Jan 04, 2024
Do all cultures and societies define knowing and believing in the same way?
No, the definitions and significance of knowing and believing can vary across cultures and societies.
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Jan 04, 2024
Are knowing and believing essential aspects of human cognition and consciousness?
Yes, knowing and believing are fundamental to human thought processes and play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of the world.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 04, 2024
Can you change knowledge into belief?
Yes, if new information or experiences challenge your existing knowledge, it may lead to a shift in belief.
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Jan 04, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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