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

When no one defines what the seat requires, evaluators fall back on the familiar resume and the face that looks the part, and that is where the benefit of the doubt often flows to men. — Julia Rafal-Baer, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Some attendees insisted that the president should get the benefit of the doubt — even as concerns about kitchen table issues tick up. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

Some attendees insisted the president should get the benefit of the doubt — even as concerns about kitchen table issues tick up. — Jacqueline Ganun, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Against the backdrop of the championship success of his other franchise, the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, perhaps Blazers fans could be convinced to give Dundon the benefit of the doubt for now. — Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Rhymes for the benefit of the doubt

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