credible

credible — adjective

1. used to describe a claim, explanation, or person that appears honest and can the

1.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe a claim, explanation, or person that appears honest and can therefore be accepted as fact by others.

例句

The police found no credible proof that anyone had entered the building that night.

credible + proof / evidence — typical object collocation

Rachid's explanation for arriving late sounded credible, so the teacher accepted it.

sound + credible — linking-verb pattern

同義詞
  • believable

    the most direct synonym; interchangeable in most contexts

  • plausible

    suggests something is reasonable and likely true, but not yet proven

  • convincing

    emphasises that the explanation causes others to accept it fully

  • trustworthy

    more often applied to a person's character over time, not a single claim

反義詞
  • unbelievable

    direct opposite; describes a claim that cannot be accepted as true

  • incredible

    stronger than 'unbelievable'; often used informally for emphasis

  • dubious

    suggests doubt about the truthfulness or reliability of something

文法句型

credible + noun (evidence / witness / explanation / threat)

be / seem / sound + credible

用法筆記

Often pairs with nouns related to statements and proof: evidence, witness, explanation, threat, report, or alibi. Focuses on whether a specific claim can be believed — not the same as 'trustworthy,' which describes a person's general character.

常見錯誤

❌She is very credible — she always believes what people tell her.
✅She is very credulous
💡she always believes what people tell her.' — 'credible' describes something that deserves to be believed; 'credulous' describes a person who is too willing to believe others.

2. used to describe a plan, candidate, or choice that is realistic enough that peop

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe a plan, candidate, or choice that is realistic enough that people treat it as a serious possibility.

例句

Solar energy is now a credible alternative to natural gas in many parts of the world.

credible + alternative — typical collocation for realistic-option sense

After the interview, Jack seemed like a credible candidate for the manager role.

同義詞
  • viable

    emphasises that something can work in practice; very close in meaning

  • realistic

    highlights that the plan matches real-world limits and resources

  • feasible

    focuses on whether something can be done given available means

  • achievable

    stresses that a goal can be reached with effort

反義詞
  • unrealistic

    describes a plan that does not fit real-world conditions

  • unworkable

    suggests a plan that cannot be put into practice at all

  • impractical

    describes an idea that is not sensible or sensible to carry out

文法句型

credible + noun (alternative / candidate / option / plan)

be / seem / become + credible

用法筆記

Typically combines with nouns for plans or candidates: alternative, candidate, option, proposal, plan, goal. Unlike sense 1, this sense is not about truthfulness — it is about practical likelihood and whether people will take the possibility seriously.

常見錯誤

❌This is a credible chance of rain today.
✅There is a credible chance of rain today.
💡'credible' modifies the option or plan itself, not the probability of an event. Use 'credible' for options/choices, not for weather forecasts.