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- DictionaryThe benefit of the doubt
- ▪ a concession that a person or statement must be regarded as correct or justified, if the contrary has not been proven
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- The meaning of THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT is the state of accepting something/someone as honest or deserving of trust even though there are doubts.
www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › the%20benefit%20of%20the%20doubtThe benefit of the doubt Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom "give someone the benefit of the doubt" in English. It means to believe something good about someone, rather than something bad, when you have the possibility of doing either.
- English (US)
GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT meaning: 1. to believe...
- Znaczenie Give Someone The Benefit of The Doubt, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary
GIVE SOMEONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT definicja: 1. to...
- English (US)
Learn the meaning of the phrase "the benefit of the doubt" and see examples of how to use it in a sentence. The phrase means to accept something or someone as honest or trustworthy despite doubts.
Learn the meaning of the phrase 'the benefit of the doubt', which means to treat someone as if they are honest or innocent, even though you are not sure. See examples, synonyms, pronunciation and related terms.
Learn the definition and origin of the expression "benefit of the doubt" and see how to use it in sentences. This phrase means to believe someone is innocent or to accept what they say as true, despite doubts or evidence to the contrary.
- Overview
- What does benefit of the doubt mean?
- How to Use the Phrase "Benefit of the Doubt"
- When to Give Benefit of the Doubt
- Importance of Giving Benefit of the Doubt
What does benefit of the doubt mean?
You may have heard the phrase "benefit of the doubt" or been told that you should give people the benefit of the doubt more often, but what exactly does this phrase mean? Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means to believe someone or trust they're a good person, even if you're not really sure what the truth is. Keep reading to learn more about what this phrase means and how it's used.
The phrase "benefit of the doubt" means to believe something good about someone rather than something bad, even if you aren’t sure of the truth.
By giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you're choosing to trust them instead of assuming the worst.
Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means believing something good about them instead of something bad, even if you’re not sure.
By giving them the benefit of the doubt, you're choosing to trust them instead of assuming the worst. For example, if your friend is late meeting you for lunch, you might give them the benefit of the doubt by assuming something important came up rather than assuming they just don't respect your time. Even though you're not 100% sure, you're choosing to see the good in them.
Use “benefit of the doubt” to signal trust in someone or something.
Here are some examples of the phrase in action:
”I wasn’t able to get there on time, so I’ll give Sarah the benefit of the doubt that she got to class on time.”
”I think we can count on Henry. He’s not normally late, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and see if he’s going through a rough patch.”
”That bakery messed up my order last time, but it could have been an honest mistake, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.”
”The customer said their items were never delivered, even though the tracking number says it was delivered. Still, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Give the benefit of the doubt when you’re unsure of the truth but trust someone.
When things don’t go according to plan with someone you trust—plans get canceled, or a phone call is missed, for example—give them the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping to negative conclusions. This can help keep your relationships more positive and supportive.
Giving the benefit of the doubt may build happier relationships.
In a study by the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers discovered that people who gave others the benefit of the doubt cultivated more positive and trusting relationships than individuals who blamed others for their actions (or lack thereof).
Similarly, giving the benefit of the doubt is a practice that can help improve your mental well-being by choosing to look for the good in the world instead of the bad or worst-case scenarios.
Trust may help you understand the actions and behaviors of others.
By giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you’re giving them the chance to explain their version of events. Before jumping to conclusions, try to see the bigger picture.
Ask yourself what may be going on in the person’s life that prevented them from following through on their commitment to you.
Learn the definition and usage of the phrase "benefit of the doubt", which means the advantage derived from doubt about guilt, a possible error, or the weight of evidence. See examples, synonyms, and related words in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Benefit of the doubt definition: a favorable opinion or judgment adopted despite uncertainty.. See examples of BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT used in a sentence.
