charge
B1Neutral to formal (depending on sense). Common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
To demand or set a price for something; to formally accuse someone of a crime; to rush forward in attack; to supply electrical energy.
A broader concept of responsibility, control, or energetic engagement, encompassing financial, legal, military, electrical, and custodial domains.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word's polysemy connects through the idea of 'loading' or 'imposing a burden' (a price, an accusation, energy, a duty). The noun often denotes the thing imposed (the price, the accusation, the energy, the responsibility).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In legal contexts, 'charge with' is standard in both, but UK may use 'charge at' for rushing more often. In finance, 'charge for' is universal. Spelling: 'centre' (UK) vs. 'center' (US) in related compounds like 'charge centre'.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. 'In charge' is equally common. 'Charge it' (to a bill/account) is standard in both.
Frequency
All core senses are high-frequency in both varieties. The legal and financial senses are extremely common in news/media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
charge (sb/sth) for sthcharge sb with (a crime/offence/task)charge (at/towards) sb/sthcharge (a battery/device)charge sth (to sth/to sb's account)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take charge”
- “Free of charge”
- “In charge (of)”
- “Charge it to the dust and let the rain settle it”
- “Get a charge out of something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To invoice a client; a cost added to a bill (e.g., 'bank charges').
Academic
In physics: the property of matter causing electrical phenomena (e.g., 'positive charge'). In law: a formal accusation.
Everyday
To pay for something with a card ('I'll charge it'); to power a phone.
Technical
In electronics: to store energy in a capacitor/battery. In military: a signal to attack.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- There's no charge for admission.
- He faces a serious charge of fraud.
- The battery has a full charge.
- She took charge of the project.
American English
- There's an extra charge for baggage.
- The felony charge was dropped.
- My phone is low on charge.
- Who's in charge here?
verb
British English
- The hotel will charge £10 for late check-out.
- The cavalry charged at the enemy lines.
- He was charged with grievous bodily harm.
- Can I charge my laptop here?
American English
- The restaurant charges $5 for delivery.
- The bull charged toward the fence.
- She was charged with tax evasion.
- I need to charge my phone before we leave.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No adverb form)
American English
- N/A (No adverb form)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No common adjective form. 'Chargeable' exists but is less frequent.)
American English
- N/A (No common adjective form. 'Chargeable' exists but is less frequent.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop doesn't charge for bags.
- My phone needs a charge.
- The dog charged at the postman.
- How much do you charge per hour?
- He is in charge of the sales team.
- The police charged him with theft.
- The bank imposed a hefty charge for the international transfer.
- The prosecutor brought a charge of manslaughter against the driver.
- The atmosphere was charged with tension during the debate.
- The committee was charged with investigating the allegations of misconduct.
- The opposition charged that the government had acted unconstitutionally.
- The capacitor can hold an electrical charge for several hours.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a knight on a CHARGEr horse, ACCUSED of a crime, who must pay a fine (a CHARGE) before he can plug in his electric CHARGEr.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPONSIBILITY/ENERGY IS A BURDEN TO BE CARRIED (e.g., 'in charge', 'charged with emotion', 'electrical charge').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить 'charge for the service' как 'заряжать за услугу' (правильно: 'брать плату').
- 'He is in charge' ≠ 'Он в заряде', а 'Он отвечает/руководит'.
- 'Charge the battery' и 'Charge him with murder' используют один глагол, но разные русские ('заряжать' vs 'обвинять').
- 'Free of charge' ≠ 'свободный от заряда', а 'бесплатный'.
Common Mistakes
- *I charged him for murder. (Correct: charged him *with* murder)
- *How much do you charge for this service? (Correct, but learners often omit 'for')
- Confusing 'charge' (cost) with 'change' (money returned).
- Using 'charge' as a noun for a person (e.g., 'my charge' meaning my child/ward) is correct but less common and can be confused.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'She was charged with leading the new initiative,' what does 'charged with' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Cost' is the price paid by the buyer. 'Charge' is the price set or demanded by the seller. E.g., 'The cost was high' vs. 'They charge a high price.'
Yes, but specifically it means to run *aggressively or quickly towards something*, often in an attack. It's not a synonym for general running (e.g., 'I charged to the bus stop' implies urgency/purpose).
It is standard and neutral. 'Free' alone is more common in casual speech, but 'free of charge' is perfectly acceptable in both formal and informal contexts.
It's a formal/old-fashioned term for a person you are responsible for, especially a child or ward. E.g., 'The nanny looked after her young charges.' It is not commonly used in everyday modern speech.
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Technology Basics
A2 · 48 words · Everyday technology and digital devices.