credit

To say or believe that someone did something or was responsible for it.

• They credit him with inventing the device.
• The poem was wrongly credited to her.
• Who should we credit with this idea?

How to use it: credit someone with something (People credit her with the invention.); credit something to someone (The saying is often credited to a famous actor.)

Similar words: attribute, ascribe

Common phrases: credit someone with something, credit something to someone

To add money to a bank account or record an amount in its favour.

• Please credit my account today.
• The bank credited the missing payment yesterday.
• They will credit fifty pounds to your account.

How to use it: credit something with an amount (The bank credited my account with twenty euros.); credit an amount to something (They credited the refund to my account.)

Opposites: debit

Common phrases: credit an account, credit someone with something

To recognize that someone helped bring about a result or deserves praise for their work.

• We should credit everyone who helped.
• He credited his teacher with his success.
• The film credits her as a writer.

How to use it: credit someone with something (She credited her coach with improving her confidence.); credit someone for something (The director credited the team for its hard work.)

Similar words: acknowledge, recognize

Common phrases: credit someone with something, credit someone for something

To believe that a statement, story, or claim is true.

• I cannot credit that story.
• She found his explanation hard to credit.
• Few readers credited the report without further evidence.

Similar words: believe, accept

Opposites: disbelieve

Common phrases: credit a story, hard to credit, credit someone’s account

An arrangement that lets you buy something now and pay for it later.

• The shop offers interest-free credit.
• They bought their washing machine on credit.
• Your bank may refuse further credit.

How to use it: on credit (We bought the sofa on credit.)

Common phrases: buy on credit, credit card, credit limit

Praise or recognition given to someone for something good they have done.

• You deserve credit for helping.
• She gave the team credit for its success.
• He took all the credit for our work.

How to use it: credit for something (She deserves credit for her careful work.); give someone credit for doing something (Give him credit for admitting his mistake.)

Similar words: recognition, praise

Opposites: blame

Common phrases: give someone credit, take the credit, deserve credit, credit for something

A unit that measures completed study and counts towards a college or university qualification.

• This course is worth three credits.
• I need six more credits to graduate.
• Will these credits count towards my degree?

How to use it: credit for something (You can earn credit for this course.)

Similar words: unit

Common phrases: course credit, earn credit, college credit

A public mention of someone’s work on a film, show, recording, or other project.

• She received a writing credit.
• His name appears in the film’s closing credits.
• The album lists a separate credit for each musician.

Similar words: acknowledgement

Common phrases: film credit, writing credit, opening credit