accuse
HighNeutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To say that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime.
To formally charge someone with a legal offense; to attribute blame or responsibility to a person, institution, or thing for a fault or problem.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a formal or serious allegation, often requiring proof. It is a performative verb; the act of accusing changes the social/legal situation. Typically used with the preposition 'of'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The legal phrase 'the accused' (noun) is standard in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a serious, often negative connotation. In everyday use, it can sometimes imply a hasty or unfair judgment.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English across all registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] accuse [Object] of [Gerund/Noun Phrase][Subject] be accused of [Gerund/Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Point the finger at”
- “Throw the book at someone”
- “Cry foul”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports of misconduct, e.g., 'Shareholders accused the CEO of mismanagement.'
Academic
Used in critical analysis, e.g., 'The author accuses prior scholarship of methodological bias.'
Everyday
Used in interpersonal conflicts, e.g., 'She accused me of forgetting her birthday.'
Technical
Primarily in legal contexts, e.g., 'The defendant is accused of violating Section 12.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They may accuse the minister of misleading the House.
- He was accused of stealing a lorry.
American English
- The prosecution will accuse the defendant of fraud.
- She accused him of being dishonest.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her accusingly.
- She pointed accusingly at the report.
American English
- 'You knew,' he said accusingly.
- The article was written accusingly.
adjective
British English
- The accused man refused to testify.
- She spoke with an accusing tone.
American English
- The accused shooter is in custody.
- He gave me an accusing look.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He accused me of taking his pencil.
- Why are you accusing me?
- The teacher accused the student of cheating on the test.
- They were accused of not telling the truth.
- The journalist was accused of bias in her reporting.
- No one could accuse him of being unprepared for the meeting.
- The opposition party accused the government of gross fiscal irresponsibility.
- He stands accused of perpetrating one of the greatest financial frauds in history.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ACCUSE' sounding like 'A CUE' – someone giving you a cue or reason to blame them.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLAME IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (to lay blame on someone), BLAME IS A WEAPON (to level accusations).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'обвинять' for mild blame; English 'accuse' is stronger. For minor faults, use 'blame'.
- Do not confuse with 'accustom' (привыкать).
- Remember the fixed preposition 'of' (обвинять в).
Common Mistakes
- Using the preposition 'for' instead of 'of' (e.g., 'He accused me for stealing' is incorrect).
- Using 'accuse' for inanimate objects in non-metaphorical contexts (e.g., 'The bad weather accused our delay' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition correctly follows the verb 'accuse' in standard usage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Accuse' is more formal and specific, often implying an official charge. 'Blame' is more general, meaning to assign responsibility for a fault, and is less formal.
Rarely. It is a transitive verb and usually requires a direct object (the person or entity being blamed). The passive form 'be accused of' is very common.
It can be both. 'The accused' refers to a singular defendant in a trial. It can also be used plurally (e.g., 'The accused were all present'), though 'the accused persons' is also used for clarity.
The main noun forms are 'accusation' (the act or statement of accusing) and 'accuser' (the person who makes an accusation).