the benefit of the doubt

noun phrase

: the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts

He might be lying, but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept what he says for now.

Examples of the benefit of the doubt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The same commitment broken in silence costs you the benefit of the doubt for a long time afterward. — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

When asked about a now-infamous flagrant-2 foul by DiJonai Carrington against Cunningham, White appeared to give Carrington the benefit of the doubt and suggest that the foul wasn't on purpose. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

This doesn’t cost the bull market the benefit of the doubt, but the wall of worry has worn down a good deal. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

Generally speaking, fans still extend him the benefit of the doubt. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the benefit of the doubt

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout