belie

Word parts

be- + lie

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /bɪˈlaɪ/ or /bəˈlaɪ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /bɪˈlaɪ/ or /bəˈlaɪ/ or /biˈlaɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form belie

Third-person singular belies

Past tense belied

Past participle belied

Present participle belying

1. (transitive) If some appearance or evidence belies the truth, it hides it.

   Her clear, strong voice belied her advancing age.

2. (transitive) If some facts or evidence belie an idea, belief, claim, etc., they show that it is untrue.

   His own email belies his claim that he didn't know.

Related words

• lie