Definition of 'deceive'

Word Frequency

deceive

(dɪsiːv )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense deceives , present participle deceiving , past tense, past participle deceived

1. verb

If you deceive someone, you make them believe something that is not true, usually in order to get some advantage for yourself.

He has deceived and disillusioned us all. [VERB noun]

She deceived her father into thinking she was going to school. [VERB noun + into]

Synonyms: take in, trick, fool [informal], cheat More Synonyms of deceive

2. verb

If you deceive yourself, you do not admit to yourself something that you know is true.

Alcoholics are notorious for their ability to deceive themselves about the extent of their problem. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]

3. verb

If something deceives you, it gives you a wrong impression and makes you believe something that is not true.

His gentle, kindly appearance did not deceive me. [VERB noun]

The boys, if my eyes did not deceive me, were praying. [VERB noun]

Video: pronunciation of 'deceive'

Word Frequency

deceive in British

(dɪˈsiːv )

verb (transitive)

to mislead by deliberate misrepresentation or lies

to delude (oneself)

to be unfaithful to (one's sexual partner)

4. archaic

to disappoint

his hopes were deceived

Derived forms

deceivable (deˈceivable)

adjective

deceivably (deˈceivably)

adverb

deceivableness (deˈceivableness) or deceivability (deˌceivaˈbility)

noun

deceiver (deˈceiver)

noun

deceiving (deˈceiving)

noun, adjective

deceivingly (deˈceivingly)

adverb

Word origin of 'deceive'

C13: from Old French deceivre, from Latin dēcipere to ensnare, cheat, from capere to take

Word Frequency

deceive in American

(diˈsiv ; dɪˈsiv )

verb transitiveWord forms: deˈceived or deˈceiving

to make (a person) believe what is not true; delude; mislead

2. Archaic

to be false to; betray

3. Archaic

to while away (time)

verb intransitive

to use deceit; lie

SYNONYMY NOTE: deceive implies deliberate misrepresentation of facts by words, actions, etc., generally to further one's ends [deceived into buying fraudulent stocks]; to mislead is to cause to follow the wrong course or to err in conduct or action, although not always by deliberate deception [misled by the sign into going to the wrong floor]; beguile implies the use of wiles and enticing prospects in deceiving or misleading [beguiled by promises of a fortune]; to delude is to fool someone so completely that what is false is accepted as being true; , betray implies a breaking of faith while appearing to be loyal

Derived forms

deceivable (deˈceivable)

adjective

deceiver (deˈceiver)

noun

deceivingly (deˈceivingly)

adverb

Word origin of 'deceive'

ME deceiven < OFr deceveir < L decipere, to ensnare, deceive < de-, from + capere, to take: see have

Example sentences containing 'deceive'

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Is deceiving your partner really the key to happiness? Times, Sunday Times (2016) One deceived his grandparents into giving him cash for his phone bills. The Sun (2008)The premise of the show was to trick and deceive people. The Sun (2006)The manner he continued to deceive people and think he could get away with it is unbelievable. The Sun (2010)And except for the fact that appearances can be deceiving. The Sun (2015)The nine years she deceived people and lived the life of a wealthy woman should be what she spends in jail. The Sun (2007)You have twin goals: to help partner and deceive declarer. Times, Sunday Times (2013)We knew we didn't deceive these people and had told their story. Times, Sunday Times (2011)This woman clearly deceived two people, and perhaps more. The Sun (2009)This is incorrect; appearances can be deceiving. Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)It looks like a reward for grievous failure; and the appearance does not deceive. Times, Sunday Times (2009)As for those imbalances, appearances can be deceiving. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Is this not deceiving people? Times, Sunday Times (2008)But appearances can be deceiving. Times, Sunday Times (2006)She's been deceived by three people in her life and has lost two friends as well as the boyfriend she thought was special. The Sun (2006)IT may seem like a healthy choice, but appearances can be deceiving. The Sun (2013)Seems like many, if not most, of the episodes involved one of them deceiving the other. Christianity Today (2000) Appearances did not deceive. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Online ticketing scams are the fastest growing area of fraud as thousands of people are deceived into paying huge sums for non-existent tickets, police have warned. Times, Sunday Times (2010)

Trends of 'deceive'

In Common Usage. deceive is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'deceive'

British English: deceive /dɪˈsiːv/ VERB

If you deceive someone, you make them believe something that is not true.

I am really hurt that he deceived me.

American English: deceive
Arabic: يَخْدَعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: enganar
Chinese: 欺骗
Croatian: zavarati
Czech: oklamat
Danish: bedrage
Dutch: bedriegen
European Spanish: engañar
Finnish: pettää harhauttaa
French: tromper
German: täuschen
Greek: εξαπατώ
Italian: ingannare
Japanese: だます
Korean: 속이다
Norwegian: bedra
Polish: oszukać
European Portuguese: enganar
Romanian: a înșela
Russian: обманывать
Latin American Spanish: engañar
Swedish: lura
Thai: หลอกลวง
Turkish: yanıltmak
Ukrainian: обманювати
Vietnamese: lừa dối

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Nearby words of 'deceive'

Source

Definition of deceive from the Collins English Dictionary

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