student asking question

Can I say "believe" instead of "understand" here?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

No, I don't think you should use "believe" instead of "understand" here. "Believe" means to accept something as true but without certainty. "Understand" means to be aware of something. Victoria knows that her staff is not happy with her choices. If she used "believe" here, she wouldn't be sure about her staff's concerns. Ex: I believe this is the answer to your question. Ex: I understand that you want to transfer schools. Ex: She believes that aliens abducted her when she was a child. Ex: He understands the risks of joining the military.

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