accuse

American  

[uh-kyooz] / əˈkyuz /

verb (used with object)

accused, accusing

1. to charge with the fault, offense, or crime (usually followed byof ).

   He accused him of murder.

   Synonyms:

   impeach, incriminate, indict, arraign

   Antonyms:

   exonerate

2. to find fault with; blame.

   Antonyms:

   exonerate

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verb (used without object)

accused, accusing

1. to make an accusation.

accuse British  

/ əˈkjuːz /

verb

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

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Usage

What does accuse mean? To accuse someone means to say that they are guilty of a crime or offense. This can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing. But accuse is also used in a legal context in the sense of accusing a person of a crime, especially in an official way. Accuse is often followed by the person being accused, the word of, and the specific wrongdoing, as in The teacher accused Ted of cheating. It’s also commonly used in a passive way, as in Ted was accused of cheating. When you accuse someone of something, you’re making an accusation. A person who accuses is called an accuser (especially when the accusation involves a crime). The adjective accused means charged with a crime or other offense. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. Statements that suggest or outright say that someone did something wrong can be described as accusatory. Example: If you’re going to accuse them of something that serious, you better have some evidence to back it up.

Other Word Forms

• accusable
  adjective
• accusably
  adverb
• accusant
  noun
• accuser
  noun
• accusing
  adjective
• accusingly
  adverb
• interaccuse
  verb (used with object)
• nonaccusing
  adjective
• preaccuse
  verb (used with object)
• reaccuse
  verb (used with object)
• self-accusing
  adjective
• unaccusable
  adjective
• unaccusing
  adjective
• unaccusingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of accuse

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

Explanation

If you charge someone with misdeeds or misconduct, you accuse that person. If the last piece of devil's food cake is missing, your sister may accuse you of eating it — especially if you have chocolate on your mouth. The verb accuse comes from the Latin word accusare, which itself is formed from the roots ad, meaning toward, and causa, reason or lawsuit. "Cause," "excuse," and even "ruse" are all from that same root word. Today, if you're accused of a crime, you may still be headed toward a lawsuit. However, to accuse someone of a crime doesn't necessarily make them guilty — plenty of people have been falsely accused.

Example Sentences

Western countries accuse China, which is not a member of the G7 and has not been invited to the meetings, of restricting exports and taking advantage of a dominant position.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

The lawsuits, which accuse the insurers of violating the state’s antirust and unfair competition laws, were largely upheld in a decision Thursday by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Samantha Jessner.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026

Our bullish strategy will prompt some to accuse us of changing our view after suggesting hedging and a stock replacement strategy.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

The U.K. and France chaired a meeting of over 50 countries on the issue, though U.S. officials accuse Europeans of moving too slowly and bureaucratically during a fast-moving crisis affecting the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

“How do we accuse him of taking something that’s not rightly ours?” he said.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk

Related Words

• allege
• arraign
• arrest
• attack
• blame
• brand
• charge
• cite
• complain
• denounce
• implicate
• indict
• name
• prosecute
• sue
• summon