WordGarden.iodeceive
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪsˈiːv/
US
- /dɪˈsiv/
Meanings
Verb
to make someone believe something false, especially deliberately
to give a false impression or make something seem other than it is
Beyond the definition
To deceive someone means to make them believe something that isn't true—essentially, it's tricking them. A sly fox might deceive a rabbit into thinking it's safe, or a politician might deceive voters with false promises. It's more than just being mistaken; deception implies intent—someone is doing it on purpose. Think of a magician deceiving the audience with illusions! Sometimes, even our own eyes can deceive us—like when an optical illusion makes something appear different than it actually is.
The word "deceive" describes the act of intentionally causing someone to believe something that is not true. It's about misleading or tricking another person through words, actions, or appearances. Unlike a simple mistake, deception involves deliberate intent—the deceiver knows they are presenting false information.
You might say a con artist attempts to deceive people into handing over their money, or a character in a story deceives others to achieve a hidden goal. Deception can range from small white lies ("I loved your cooking!") to elaborate schemes designed to manipulate and harm.
The word has roots suggesting "to ensnare" or "catch," hinting at the way deception traps someone in a false belief. It's often used in contexts involving trust, betrayal, and morality. For example: "He felt betrayed when he discovered his friend had deceived him for years." Or, "She was skilled at deceiving others with her charming smile."
Sometimes, things can seem to deceive us—like illusions or misleading evidence. But true deception requires a conscious actor aiming to mislead. So, if someone is deliberately leading you astray, they are attempting to deceive you.
Examples
- 1
Fraud
She used a fake name to deceive her customers.
- 2
Online trick
The website was designed to deceive people into clicking the link.
- Patterndeceive someone into doing X
trick them so they do it
- 3
Appearance
At first glance, the bag looked expensive, but appearances can deceive.
- Phraseappearances can deceive
something may look different from the truth
- 4
Self-deception
He had deceived himself into believing the problem would go away.
- Patterndeceive yourself into believing + claim
make yourself believe something that is not true
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
False impression
Don't be deceived by his calm voice; he's very angry.
- Patternbe deceived by + appearance/sound
be tricked by what you see or hear
- 6
Media
The headline was written to shock readers, not to inform them, and it ended up deceiving a lot of people.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- deceiveverb
Forms
- deceivedpast tenseverb
- deceiving-ing formverb
- deceivesverb