Credit means trust that someone will pay back what they owe. When a store gives you credit, they let you take something now and pay for it later because they trust you'll follow through. Banks extend credit when they lend money for a house or car, trusting borrowers to make their payments over time.

The word also means recognition or acknowledgment for something you've done. When you give someone credit for an idea, you're publicly acknowledging that it came from them. Teachers give credit for completed assignments. Movie credits list everyone who worked on the film. If you take credit for something, you're saying you deserve recognition for it.

In school, credit can mean the units you earn for completing courses. You might need a certain number of English credits to graduate.

There's also to your credit, which means something good about you or something that reflects well on your character. If you admitted a mistake right away, that's to your credit: it shows honesty and courage.

When something adds honor to you, it does you credit or reflects credit on you.