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
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has received more of the benefit of the doubt, though the Irish almost certainly can’t lose again, either.
—
Grace Raynor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
To Lerner at Truist, the bull market deserves the benefit of the doubt.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And give people the benefit of the doubt.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
But equally important is to give the offender the benefit of the doubt.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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Grace Raynor, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
To Lerner at Truist, the bull market deserves the benefit of the doubt.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And give people the benefit of the doubt.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
But equally important is to give the offender the benefit of the doubt.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
Cite this Entry
“The benefit of the doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubt. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
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