credit
gb/kɹˈɛdɪt/ us/kɹˈɛdɪt/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Financial trustworthiness rating
A record that shows if someone pays back money they borrow on time.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'credit' with 'loan'; credit is the ability to borrow, not the borrowed money itself.
Synonyms
reputation (In finance, refers specifically to trustworthiness with money.)
Antonyms
debt (Refers to money owed, the opposite of having available trust or borrowing power.)
Collocations
good credit
|credit score
|credit history
|credit rating
Themes
business
|finance
|daily life
Examples
- She was able to get a loan because she has excellent credit.
- Your credit will improve if you pay your bills on time.
- The bank refused his application due to poor credit.
Learner examples
- I have good credit.
- He has bad credit.
- She wants to build her credit.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Money available in account
Money in an account that you can use.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'credit' with 'cash'; in this sense, it may be non-cash value tied to an account.
Synonyms
balance (Refers to the amount in an account, not necessarily from borrowing.)
Antonyms
overdraft (A negative balance in an account.)
Collocations
store credit
|mobile phone credit
|account credit
Themes
business
|finance
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- The store gave me a $20 credit after I returned the item.
- You can top up your phone credit online.
- There is a credit of $150 in your account.
Learner examples
- I have $10 credit on my phone.
- The shop gave me store credit.
- My account has a small credit.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Public praise for contribution
When people say who did something good or give thanks for it.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'credit' with 'compliment'; 'credit' often has a formal or recorded aspect.
Synonyms
recognition (Focuses on acknowledging someone's work or achievement.)
Antonyms
blame (Assigning responsibility for something bad instead of good.)
Collocations
give credit
|take credit
|deserve credit
Themes
media
|work
|daily life
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- She deserves credit for organizing the event.
- The director gave full credit to the production team.
- He took credit for an idea that wasn’t his.
Learner examples
- I give her credit for the idea.
- He took credit for my work.
- They got credit for their hard work.
Noun
A2
entity
4
Names in film or TV production
The list of names at the start or end of a film or TV show that shows who worked on it.
Synonyms
acknowledgments (A more general term for recognizing contributions; not limited to media.)
Collocations
opening credits
|closing credits
Themes
media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- I always stay to watch the credits after a movie.
- Her name appears in the opening credits.
- The film's credits rolled over a song by the band.
Learner examples
- The movie credits were long.
- I saw his name in the credits.
- They read the credits at the end.
Verb
B1
action
5
Add funds to account
To put money into an account.
Usage pattern:
to credit [someone's account] with [amount]
Synonyms
deposit (Usually refers to physically or electronically putting money into an account; 'credit' is often used more formally by institutions.)
Antonyms
debit (To remove money from an account.)
Collocations
credit an account
|credited with
Themes
business
|finance
|daily_life
Examples
- The bank credited my account with $500.
- Your refund will be credited within five business days.
- They credited her with extra vacation time.
Learner examples
- The bank credited my account today.
- They will credit your card soon.
- I want to credit my account.
Verb
B2
action
6
Attribute work or result to someone
To say that someone did something or caused something good.
Usage pattern:
to credit [someone/something] with [something]
Synonyms
attribute (More general; used beyond giving praise, also for causes and effects.)
Collocations
credit someone with
Themes
work
|daily life
|communication
|education
Examples
- He is credited with inventing the device.
- The teacher credited her students with improving the project.
- The magazine credited the photographer for the cover image.
Learner examples
- They credited her with the idea.
- He is credited with writing the book.
- We credited him with saving the team.
Grammar
Dictionary form
credit
IPA
GB/kɹˈɛdɪt/
US/kɹˈɛdɪt/
Syllables & stress
cred - it (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cred)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: credit
- Plural: credit, credits
Verb
- Base: credit
- 3rd Person Singular: credits
- Present Participle: crediting
- Past: credited
Word family
Forms
credits
noun
crediting
verb
credited
verb
Core family
credible
adjective B2
credibility
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
Expressions
get credit for
1/ɡˈɛt kɹˈɛdɪt fɚ/
fixed phrase
Receive recognition for work done
To be praised or thanked for something you did.
Examples
- He got credit for solving the problem quickly.
- You should get credit for all your hard work.
give credit where credit is due
1/ɡˈɪv kɹˈɛdɪt wˈɛɹ kɹˈɛdɪt ˈɪz dˈu/
idiom
Acknowledge deserved praise or recognition
To say someone did something good when they really did it.
Examples
- Let's give credit where credit is due: she made this project succeed.
- He always gives credit where credit is due.
on credit
1/ˈɔn kɹˈɛdɪt/
fixed phrase
Buy now, pay later arrangement
To buy something and pay for it later, often using a card or loan.
Examples
- We bought the furniture on credit and will pay it off over time.
- Many students pay their tuition on credit.
store credit
1/stˈɔɹ kɹˈɛdɪt/
fixed phrase
Value usable only at store issued by it
Money value from a store that you can only spend there, not cash.
Examples
- They gave me store credit instead of a refund.
- I have $50 in store credit from my last return.
take credit for
1/tˈeɪk kɹˈɛdɪt fɚ/
fixed phrase
Claim praise for something done
To say you did something good, even if you didn't do it alone or at all.
Examples
- She took credit for my idea at the meeting.
- They took credit for the team's success.