believe one's eyes

verb

To believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case.

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Meanings

verbbelieve one's eyes (third-person singular simple present believes one's eyes, present participle believing one's eyes, simple past and past participle believed one's eyes)

present singular third person believes one's eyes · participle present believing one's eyes · participle past believed one's eyes · past believed one's eyes · alternative believe one's own eyes

  1. idiomaticTo believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case.

    She was so amazed at the change in him that she could not believe her eyes.

    1914, Zane Grey, chapter 3, in Light of the Western Stars
    2 more examples

    [H]e could scarcely believe his eyes as she appeared on the floor unsurpassed in beauty and grace, her favor sought by all. Was that the simple girl who […] had leaned against his shoulder?

    1884, Edward Payson Roe, chapter 59, in Nature's Serial Story

    Millions of Greeks worldwide erupted in joyful celebration, hardly believing their eyes after Greece beat hosts Portugal in the Euro 2004 finals.

    2004 July 5, “Charisteas: We are the Best in Europe”, in Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria, retrieved 27 Aug 2013

Translations

Finnish uskoa silmiään
  • uskoa silmiäänto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
French en croire ses yeux
  • en croire ses yeuxto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Hungarian hisz a szemének
  • hisz a szeménekto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Norwegian tro sine egne øyne
  • tro sine egne øyneto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Polish wierzyć własnym oczom
  • wierzyć własnym oczomto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Spanish dar crédito
  • dar créditoto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Swedish tro sina ögon
  • tro sina ögonto believe that something which one directly sees is truly the case
Cite this entry
APA

believe one's eyes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/believe%20one's%20eyes

MLA

“believe one's eyes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/believe%20one's%20eyes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “believe one's eyes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/believe%20one's%20eyes.

Source: believe one's eyes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.