NSW Selective & Scholarship

Learn “Belie”

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Selective & Scholarship

Belie

verb/bih-LY/

Meaning

(of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.

In context

His calm face belied the turmoil he felt inside.

Remember it

Be-LIE: the outside tells a lie about the inside — a calm face belies real nerves.

Use it well

Pattern: X belies Y — the appearance comes first: 'her grin belied her nerves'.