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

While some Iranians now give the regime the benefit of the doubt after its war performance, others remain unconvinced. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026

People are questioning why others like Volvo, which is in fact Polestar's sister brand, and Ford Motor, which imports its Lincoln Nautilus from China, have been given the benefit of the doubt in this situation. — New Atlas, 4 July 2026

Thinking ahead Maybe one of the finest defensive third basemen of this (or any) generation should get the benefit of the doubt. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026

The Red Sox have lost the benefit of the doubt, and there’s plenty of that hanging around Fenway. — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 13 June 2026

Rhymes for the benefit of the doubt

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