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
So proceed accordingly and give them the benefit of the doubt.
—
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024
What kind of month gives you the benefit of the doubt and a subsequent rally of huge proportion?
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2024
But Baumann was giving the rookie the benefit of the doubt.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Grandparents may not understand their child's or their child's partner's choices and rules for visiting their newborn, but the best course of action is to give the new parents the benefit of the doubt, respect their boundaries, and not take the boundaries personally.
—Susan Adcox, Parents, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt 
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024
What kind of month gives you the benefit of the doubt and a subsequent rally of huge proportion?
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2024
But Baumann was giving the rookie the benefit of the doubt.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Grandparents may not understand their child's or their child's partner's choices and rules for visiting their newborn, but the best course of action is to give the new parents the benefit of the doubt, respect their boundaries, and not take the boundaries personally.
—Susan Adcox, Parents, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for the benefit of the doubt
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
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“The benefit of the doubt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubt. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
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