Meaning & use
credit
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
Praise or recognition for something done well or for a good quality.
Grammar: Often with take or give: give her credit.
Patterns
- credit for something
- take credit for something
She deserves credit for finishing so quickly.
He took credit for my idea.
Give credit where it is due.
noununcountablefinance
An arrangement in which you receive goods or money now and pay later.
Grammar: Often on credit; credit card.
Patterns
- on credit
- buy something on credit
They bought the sofa on credit.
The shop no longer offers credit.
Her credit is good.
nouncountablefinance
An amount of money added to an account or owed to someone.
Grammar: A credit is an entry that adds money.
Patterns
- a credit of something
The store issued a credit of twenty dollars.
A tax credit lowered his bill.
nouncountable
A unit of study counted toward a degree, or a name listed as having worked on a film or book.
Grammar: Often plural in film: the credits.
Patterns
- earn a credit
- film credits
The course is worth three credits.
Stay to watch the closing credits.
verbtransitive
To recognize someone as responsible for something, or to add money to an account.
Grammar: credit someone with something; credit an account.
Patterns
- credit someone with something
- credit something to someone
She is credited with the discovery.
The bank credited my account.
Word forms
| plural | credits |
|---|---|
| third person singular | credits |
| past tense | credited |
| past participle | credited |
| -ing form | crediting |
Common combinations
- give credit
- Give credit to the whole team.
- on credit
- We bought the car on credit.
- credit card
- Pay by credit card.
- take the credit
- He took the credit for it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- recognition
- Public acknowledgment, no money meaning.
- praise
- Words of approval only.
- loan
- Borrowed money, with a set amount and term.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: credit or credible?
credit vs credible
Credible means believable; credit is praise or borrowing.
Practice
The coach gave the players full ___ for the win.
Choose one answer.
Give credit means to acknowledge. Blame is the opposite, and debt is money owed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “credit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.