What does creditably mean?
"Creditably" is an adverb meaning in a way that deserves praise, approval, or credit. It describes actions or performances that are worthy of commendation, whether genuinely impressive or simply respectable. The word carries a formal tone and appears frequently in journalism, official evaluations, and historical writing — one might read that a soldier "served creditably," a novice team "performed creditably" against seasoned rivals, or a minister "conducted herself creditably" during a crisis. A closely related idiom, "acquit oneself creditably," means to come through a demanding situation with one's reputation enhanced. The adverb derives from "creditable" (deserving credit), which in turn comes from "credit," ultimately from the Latin credere, "to believe or trust." Because it sits between ordinary adequacy and excellence, "creditably" is a useful word for measured, fair praise — acknowledging solid merit without overstatement.
adverbIn a way that deserves credit, praise, or approval; commendably or respectably well.
- In a manner that merits praise or approval; commendably.
- Well enough to be respected, though not necessarily outstandingly; respectably.
"She performed creditably in her first international competition, finishing in the top ten."
"The young team performed creditably against far more experienced opponents."
"He served creditably as chairman for six years before stepping down."
To 'acquit yourself creditably' doesn't mean you were acquitted of a crime — it means you came through a trial of any kind with your reputation intact.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of creditably
"Creditably" derives from "creditable," an adjective formed from "credit" plus the suffix -able, with the adverbial -ly added later. "Credit" itself entered English in the early 16th century from French crédit, ultimately from Latin credere, "to believe, trust." Words sharing this Latin root include "credible," "credentials," and "credence."
Related word forms
How creditably is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in journalism and official reports when evaluating performance. Often used with verbs like perform, serve, and acquit oneself. The phrase 'acquit oneself creditably' is an established idiom meaning to behave or perform well under difficult circumstances.
Easily confused with creditably
"Credibly" means believably or plausibly (from credible), while "creditably" means deserving praise or credit (from creditable).