English Reference

Word

credit

Phoneticscred·it, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈkɹɛdət/

UK/kɹˈɛdɪt/

Definitions

01buy now, pay later

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Finance

n. an arrangement where you buy something now and pay for it later.

n. the provision of goods or services without immediate payment based on the trust that payment will be forthcoming.

“I didn't have enough cash for the sofa, so I bought it on credit.”

“The retailer offered interest-free credit for the first twelve months to encourage customers to upgrade their home appliances.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02praise or recognition

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. praise or respect given to someone for doing something.

n. public acknowledgment or praise given for an achievement, quality, or specific contribution.

“She did all the work, but her manager took all the credit.”

“The lead scientist was careful to give credit to the junior researchers whose data collection had been vital to the breakthrough.”

Antonyms

03academic unit

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a unit that shows you have completed a part of a college or university course.

n. a unit of study used to measure the progress of a student toward a degree or diploma.

“You need forty more credits to graduate from this university.”

“Students may transfer credits earned during their semester abroad, provided the curriculum aligns with the university's core requirements.”

Synonyms

04film/TV titles

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Theater

n. the list of names of people who worked on a movie or TV show.

n. a list of the people who helped to make a film, play, or television programme, usually shown at the end.

“We stayed until the end of the credits to see the name of the song.”

“The opening credits were stylised to match the film's noir aesthetic, featuring high-contrast typography and moody music.”

05money in an account

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Accounting

n. money that is added to a bank account or a balance you can spend.

n. an entry in an account showing a sum received; the positive balance available in a financial system.

“I have a ten-pound credit on my phone account.”

“The accounting department issued a credit to the client's account after the overpayment was identified during the monthly audit.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

06to attribute to

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to say that someone is responsible for something good.

v. to attribute an achievement or a quality to someone. Often used in the passive voice with 'with'.

“The architect is credited with designing some of the city's most famous buildings.”

“The administration is widely credited with having stabilised the economy during the initial stages of the fiscal crisis.”

Usage

Often used as 'be credited with' followed by a noun or gerund.

Synonyms

07to believe

C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary

v. to believe that something is true.

v. to accept as true; to give credence to a statement or story.

“It was hard to credit his story after he had lied so many times before.”

“The witness's account was so fantastical that the jury found it impossible to credit, despite his earnest delivery being seemingly sincere.”

Antonyms

doubtdisbelieve

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French crédit (“belief, trust”), from Latin crēditum (“a loan, credit”), neuter of crēditus, past participle of crēdere (“to believe”). The verb is from the noun. Doublet of shraddha, creed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

credit(A2)

Related words

Idioms

Domains

AccountingBusinessFinanceLaw

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Very common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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