phraseC2
lend credence to
/lɛnd ˈkriːdəns tə/When discussing evidence for an idea or claim, this phrase means that something makes it seem more likely to be true.
It suggests support, not proof: the evidence makes an idea more believable without showing that it is certainly true.
EXAMPLES
- Repeated detections of the same narrow-band signal could lend credence to the idea that it came from an intelligent source.
- Microbes thriving near deep-sea vents may lend credence to the possibility of life beneath Europa’s ice.
- Taken together, the gases in the planet’s atmosphere lend credence to the hypothesis of biological activity.
SYNONYMS
support the idea thatstrengthen the case formake more plausibleprovide evidence forback up
ANTONYMS
cast doubt onundermineweaken the case forcall into question
GRAMMAR
Phrase · formal · commonly followed by a noun phrase or a clause introduced by “that.”
COMMON COLLOCATIONS
lend credence to a theorylend credence to a hypothesislend credence to the idealend credence to a claim
