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
My son, who had never really had any girlfriends prior, kept giving her the benefit of the doubt instead of recognizing her red flags and asking questions.
—
Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
For the moment, the market continues to give Musk the benefit of the doubt—at least until Tesla publishes its Q1 production, deliveries, and earnings in April.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
Employees can feel when they’re being heard, understood and given the benefit of the doubt.
—Kelly Hopping, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Bell, for his part, also gave him the benefit of the doubt.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
The rules have been altered to really give the benefit of the doubt to the offensive player.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024
Until then, Butler has earned the benefit of the doubt after basically turning into Michael Jordan during multiple playoff runs with the Heat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2024
John Hunter wants jurors to give Howerton the benefit of the doubt.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2024
After giving him four years worth of the benefit of the doubt, NHTSA is at long last calling the bluff.
—Ed Niedermeyer, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2023
Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
For the moment, the market continues to give Musk the benefit of the doubt—at least until Tesla publishes its Q1 production, deliveries, and earnings in April.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
Employees can feel when they’re being heard, understood and given the benefit of the doubt.
—Kelly Hopping, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Bell, for his part, also gave him the benefit of the doubt.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
The rules have been altered to really give the benefit of the doubt to the offensive player.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024
Until then, Butler has earned the benefit of the doubt after basically turning into Michael Jordan during multiple playoff runs with the Heat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2024
John Hunter wants jurors to give Howerton the benefit of the doubt.
—Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2024
After giving him four years worth of the benefit of the doubt, NHTSA is at long last calling the bluff.
—Ed Niedermeyer, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the benefit of the doubt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 Apr. 2024.
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