MEANING
To judge someone favorably when the evidence leaves room for an unfavorable interpretation.
Use it for
trusting someone despite uncertainty; choosing a charitable explanation; withholding blame when proof is incomplete; not assuming the worst about someoneExpresses provisional trust while acknowledging that the evidence does not settle the matter. Writing functions: Choosing a charitable interpretation. Semantic categories (by meaning): Trust; Judgment; Uncertainty. Contexts: General conversation; Creative prose.
On the page
The receipt was missing, but the manager gave her the benefit of the doubt.
Until we hear his explanation, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Word forms
- Base
- give someone the benefit of the doubt
Usage notes
Inflect give: gives someone the benefit of the doubt; gave someone the benefit of the doubt; given; giving. The object names the person being judged. Register: neutral. Commonness: common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.