accuse

[ uh-kyooz ]
See synonyms for: accuseaccusedaccusingaccusable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.
  1. to charge with the fault, offense, or crime (usually followed by of): He accused him of murder.

  2. to find fault with; blame.

verb (used without object),ac·cused, ac·cus·ing.
  1. to make an accusation.

Origin of accuse

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ac(c)usen, from Old French acuser, from Latin accūsāre “to call to account,” from ac- ac- + cūs-, combining form of causa “case, reason, sake” (see cause) + āre, infinitive suffix

Other words for accuse

Opposites for accuse

Other words from accuse

  • ac·cus·a·ble, adjective
  • ac·cus·a·bly, adverb
  • ac·cus·ant, noun
  • ac·cus·ing·ly, adverb
  • in·ter·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), in·ter·ac·cused, in·ter·ac·cus·ing.
  • non·ac·cus·ing, adjective
  • pre·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), pre·ac·cused, pre·ac·cus·ing.
  • re·ac·cuse, verb (used with object), re·ac·cused, re·ac·cus·ing.
  • self-ac·cus·ing, adjective
  • un·ac·cus·a·ble, adjective
  • un·ac·cus·ing, adjective
  • un·ac·cus·ing·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with accuse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use accuse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accuse

accuse

/ (əˈkjuːz) /


verb
  1. to charge (a person or persons) with some fault, offence, crime, etc; impute guilt or blame

Origin of accuse

1
C13: via Old French from Latin accūsāre to call to account, from ad- to + causa lawsuit

Derived forms of accuse

  • accuser, noun
  • accusing, adjective
  • accusingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012