credit
Credit (noun) means Recognition or praise given for something a person has done. Example: “She deserves credit for finishing the project on time.”
How to use credit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrust, recognition, or borrowed money, depending on context — plus the verb for adding funds or giving someone recognition.
Word forms
credited past tense, credit plural, credited plural, credits plural, Credits plural, credits singular, credit singular, credited singular, creditest singular, crediteth singular, creditedst singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She deserves _____ for finishing the project on time.
Etymology
From Middle French crédit, from Latin creditum, "a loan", from credere, "to believe" — the underlying idea is trust that a debt will be repaid.
Related words
Rhymes for credit
See all rhymes for credit →Frequently asked questions
What does “credit” mean?
The word “credit” means recognition or praise given for something a person has done. In plain terms, trust, recognition, or borrowed money, depending on context — plus the verb for adding funds or giving someone recognition.
How do you pronounce “credit”?
“Credit” is pronounced KREH-diht (/ˈkɹɛdɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “credit” in a sentence?
Here is “credit” used in a sentence: “She deserves credit for finishing the project on time.”
What part of speech is “credit”?
Depending on how it is used, “credit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “credit” come from?
The word “credit” comes from Latin. From Middle French crédit, from Latin creditum, "a loan", from credere, "to believe" — the underlying idea is trust that a debt will be repaid.
Is “credit” a common word?
“Credit” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “credit” have?
“Credit” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: recognition or praise given for something a person has done.
What does it mean to give someone credit?
Giving someone credit means publicly acknowledging that they are responsible for something good — an idea, an achievement, or hard work. It recognizes their contribution so they receive the praise they deserve. You might credit a colleague for a winning plan, or credit a whole team for a project's success.
What is the difference between credit and praise?
Praise is direct approval or admiration — telling someone they did well. Credit is about attribution: naming who is responsible for an achievement so recognition goes to the right person. You can give credit quietly, simply by acknowledging the source, whereas praise is usually expressed as an active compliment.
What does 'take credit for something' mean?
To take credit for something is to claim recognition for it, presenting yourself as the person responsible. It is positive when the achievement is genuinely yours, but negative when you take credit for others' work — a common workplace complaint. The phrase 'take the credit' carries exactly the same meaning.
Does credit always mean recognition?
No. In this sense, credit means recognition or praise for something done. But the same word has other common meanings: money you can borrow and repay later, a positive balance in an account, or a unit of study completed at school or college. Context makes the intended meaning clear.
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Vocabulary lists that include credit: