credit
KREH-diht
Credit (noun) means Recognition or praise given for something a person has done. Example: “The whole team deserves credit for the smooth opening of the new library.”
noun
1
Recognition or praise given for something a person has done.
"The whole team deserves credit for the smooth opening of the new library."
"She deserves credit for finishing the project on time."
"He never gets credit for all the work he puts in behind the scenes."
2
An arrangement allowing a buyer to pay for goods or services later, or a bank to lend money.
"Many shops offer interest-free credit if you pay for the furniture in instalments."
"The bank refused her credit because she had missed several earlier payments."
"They bought the sofa on credit and paid it off over a year."
verb
1
To add money to an account.
"The refund was credited to her card within three days."
"The bank will credit the money to your account by Friday."
"Once we receive the returned item, we will credit your account."
2
To believe something, or to attribute an achievement to someone.
"Most people credit her with turning the failing shop into a thriving business."
"He wouldn't credit the rumour until he heard it from the manager himself."
"The invention is usually credited to a Scottish engineer."
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
give credit
buy on credit
credit rating
take credit for
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Word forms
- Plural
- credits
- Third person singular
- credits
- Past tense
- credited
- Archaic forms
- creditest, crediteth, creditedst
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The whole team deserves _____ for the smooth opening of the new library.
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.
Synonyms
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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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