Dismiss vs You believe that phony story

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Dismiss

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

You believe that phony story

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Dismiss
 DismissYou believe that phony story
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //jʊ bɪˈliːv ðæt ˈfəʊni ˈstɔːri//🇺🇸 //ju bɪˈliv ðæt ˈfoʊni ˈstɔri//
MeaningTo let someone or something go or not consider it.You think that false story is true.
ExampleThe teacher decided to dismiss the class early today.I can't believe that phony story she told us.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsquickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, frombelieve a story, phony excuse, phony friend
Antonymsembrace, welcome, accepttrustworthy, genuine, authentic
Common mistakesUsing 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriateUsing 'believes' instead of 'believe' for plural subjects., Confusing 'phony' with 'phony' in different contexts., Omitting 'that' when it is necessary.
Usage notesUse 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing.Used when expressing skepticism about someone's story. Suitable for most contexts, but avoid in formal writing.

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You believe that phony story

Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs You believe that phony story

What's the difference between Dismiss and You believe that phony story?

Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. You believe that phony story: You think that false story is true.

Which is more common: Dismiss and You believe that phony story?

Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. You believe that phony story: I can't believe that phony story she told us.

Can I use Dismiss and You believe that phony story interchangeably?

Not always. Dismiss and You believe that phony story are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.