creditably

IPA/ˈkredɪtəbli/
KK[krˈɛdətəbli]IPA/ˈkredɪtəbli/

creditably — adverb

1. in a way that is good enough for people to think well of you and to feel you sho

1.adverbC1
Definition

in a way that is good enough for people to think well of you and to feel you should be praised.

Example

Samir played creditably in his first chess tournament against much older opponents.

verb + creditably for praiseworthy performance

The young swimmer finished creditably, beating two of the national record holders.

finished + creditably

Common collocations
  • perform creditably
  • play creditably
  • do creditably
  • finish creditably
Synonyms
  • admirably

    stronger; clear approval rather than just respectable

  • respectably

    very close; stresses meeting an acceptable standard

  • well

    much more general and common; lacks the 'deserving praise' nuance

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

perform / do + creditably

Usage Note

Usually pairs with verbs about performing or competing (perform, play, do, finish, respond). Often signals a result that fell short of winning but still earned respect.

Common Mistakes

She sang creditably the song.
She sang the song creditably.
as an adverb, it follows the verb and its object, not the verb alone.

2. following good moral standards, so that the way someone behaves can be respected

2.adverbC1
Definition

following good moral standards, so that the way someone behaves can be respected as honest and fair.

Example

Throughout the long bribery scandal, the mayor acted creditably and refused every secret payment.

acted creditably for morally honest conduct

Ziad behaved creditably by returning the lost wallet with all the cash inside.

behaved creditably

Common collocations
  • behave creditably
  • act creditably
  • conduct oneself creditably
Synonyms
  • honourably

    very close; emphasises keeping to a code of honour

  • decently

    more everyday; stresses basic fairness and kindness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

behave / act + creditably

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense judges the moral quality of conduct (honesty, fairness), while sense 1 judges the quality of a performance. Pairs with behave, act, conduct oneself.

Common Mistakes

He treated the workers creditable.
He treated the workers creditably.
use the -ly adverb form when describing how someone acts, not the adjective 'creditable'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe doing something in a way that earns approval, but they differ in strength. 'Creditably' is the most modest: it often means a result was good enough to deserve respect, even if it was not a clear win — a team that 'performed creditably' did better than expected without taking first place. 'Respectably' is the closest neighbour, stressing that an acceptable standard was met. 'Commendably' is a step up, suggesting the action positively deserves to be pointed out and praised. 'Admirably' is the strongest, implying something so well done that others look up to it. So a student who finishes a hard exam 'creditably' did solidly; one who finishes 'admirably' did outstandingly.

creditably ↗admirably ↗respectablycommendably ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • perform creditably
  • behave creditably
  • acquit oneself creditably

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Creditably comes from the adjective 'creditable', which is built on 'credit' plus the ending '-able' meaning 'worthy of'. 'Credit' itself goes back to Latin 'credere', 'to believe or trust'. So something done 'creditably' is, at root, done in a way worthy of trust and good opinion. The '-ly' ending turns the adjective into an adverb describing how an action is carried out.

First known use

1594

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1