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
Trust grows through small moments—choosing to share a personal thought, asking for support or giving your partner the benefit of the doubt.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
For these reasons, Flores has earned the benefit of the doubt.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
To give that fridge the benefit of the doubt: There’s something in Shepard’s vision of corporate lawyers who entangle the Tates in loan debt and bad land deals that rhymes with the HGTV aesthetic of MLMs and other get-rich-quick schemes of our era.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
Lisa disappears during the rest of the date, presumably to go give a man the benefit of the doubt!
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
For these reasons, Flores has earned the benefit of the doubt.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
To give that fridge the benefit of the doubt: There’s something in Shepard’s vision of corporate lawyers who entangle the Tates in loan debt and bad land deals that rhymes with the HGTV aesthetic of MLMs and other get-rich-quick schemes of our era.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
Lisa disappears during the rest of the date, presumably to go give a man the benefit of the doubt!
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 11 Feb. 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 13 Mar. 2025.
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