blame
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to hold responsible; find fault with; censure.
I don't blame you for leaving him.
-
to place the responsibility for (a fault, error, etc.) (usually followed byon ).
I blame the accident on her.
-
Informal. blast; damn (used as a mild curse).
Blame the rotten luck.
noun
-
an act of attributing fault; censure; reproof.
The judge said he found nothing to justify blame in the accident.
- Synonyms:
- animadversion, reproach, stricture, condemnation, reprehension
-
responsibility for anything deserving of censure.
We must all share the blame for this deplorable condition.
- Synonyms:
- sin, fault, culpability, guilt
idioms
noun
-
responsibility for something that is wrong or deserving censure; culpability
-
an expression of condemnation; reproof
-
to be at fault or culpable
verb
-
(usually foll by for) to attribute responsibility to; accuse
I blame him for the failure
-
(usually foll by on) to ascribe responsibility for (something) to
I blame the failure on him
-
to find fault with
Usage
Some speakers avoid blame on as informal ( He blamed the fight on me ), preferring blame alone ( He blamed me ) or blame for ( He blamed me for it ). Since all three forms occur with equal frequency in educated usage, they may all be considered equally acceptable.
Synonym Usage
Blame, censure, condemn imply finding fault with someone or something. To blame is to hold accountable for, and disapprove because of, some error, mistake, omission, neglect, or the like: Whom do you blame for the disaster? The verb censure differs from the noun in connoting scolding or rebuking even more than adverse criticism: to censure one for extravagance. To condemn is to express an adverse (especially legal) judgment, without recourse: to condemn conduct, a building, a person to death.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
blamernoun
-
self-blamenoun
-
overblameverb (used with object)
-
blamableadjective
-
unblamingadjective
-
blamablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
blamesimple
-
blamessimple
-
have blamedperfect
-
has blamedperfect
-
am blamingprogressive
-
are blamingprogressive
-
is blamingprogressive
-
have been blamingperfect progressive
-
has been blamingperfect progressive
Past
-
blamedsimple
-
had blamedperfect
-
was blamingprogressive
-
were blamingprogressive
-
had been blamingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of blame
First recorded in 1150–1200; (for the verb) Middle English blamen, from Anglo-French, Old French blasmer, from Vulgar Latin blastēmāre (unrecorded), from Late Latin blasphēmāre “to speak irreverently, profanely” ( see blaspheme); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
Blame is about being responsible for something that's bad or has gone wrong. If you have a headache, you might blame it on the heat, or on not getting enough sleep. A person can be to blame for something. Your mom might walk into the house, see a broken lamp and blame you. Often, in official contexts, blame is "assigned" or "placed." A common complaint among younger siblings is, "Why do I always get blamed for everything?"
Vocabulary lists containing blame
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 4
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Jacket"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But some observers have expressed skepticism that AI is to blame, pointing to other factors such as over-hiring and efforts to cut costs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Paese, who had been a staunch supporter of Ruemmler, pushed back and told Ruemmler her own emails were to blame, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
"A number of factors can affect water quality. It is certainly not just about water companies. Weather, animal poo, road-run-off and littering are all to blame."
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
When people fail or make a mistake, they can become very emotional and blame the new culture and country.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
It was much easier to blame people who couldn’t speak for themselves.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Judge blames bond-market turmoil and rising interest rates, which hit leveraged bond funds and drove away many private investors.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 26, 2026
A retired fisherman from the same town, Twaha Yusuf, told AFP he had not seen a Dugong, the beloved manatee-like sea mammals, for 40 years -- and blames the trawlers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
Iran blames the smuggling on criminal groups, who are able to buy fuel cheaply because the regime sells petrol and diesel at subsidised prices to Iranian citizens.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
He blames the utilities for high consumer bills and causing deadly wildfires with their faulty utility equipment.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
“And what I think is Dad blames that on Grandpop.”
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
Critics blamed doomsday rhetoric for radicalizing young men, while the movement itself, including Stop AI, denounced violence and tried pivoting to a gentler brand of advocacy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
India said 10 of its nationals had been rescued and one remained missing after a strike early Sunday on a vessel off the coast of Oman, which the United States blamed on Iran.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
According to US media, Iran told American officials the attacks on tankers were a mistake and blamed a rogue internal group.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Newport Beach’s Police Assn. blamed social media for a viral “TikTok takeover,” though in that instance, it’s unknown how many posts were made or how the organizing took place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
“Reminds me of all the people who blamed my husband for his own death.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
However, IBM collapsed more than 25 percent after releasing disappointing preliminary second-quarter results, blaming a shift in spending by customers caused by expected higher prices for memory chips and other AI-related infrastructure.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
While speaking with host Chad Ochocinco, Donovan criticized how youth soccer is structured in the U.S., while not blaming any organization specifically.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
A court-appointed guardian for Joshua sued for negligence, blaming not only the driver who hit him and ran away but also the city and the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
"I take my own responsibilities for that, rather than blaming one person".
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
“I wouldn’t dream of blaming you for what happened to Papa. Ever.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
