accuse

American  

[uh-kyooz] / əˈkjuz /

verb (used with object)

accuses, present (3rd person singular) accused, past participle, past accusing present participle

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)

accuses, present (3rd person singular) accused, past participle, past accusing present participle

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

Derived Forms

• accusant
  noun
• accuser
  noun
• accusable
  adjective
• accusing
  adjective
• nonaccusing
  adjective
• self-accusing
  adjective
• unaccusable
  adjective
• unaccusing
  adjective
• accusably
  adverb
• accusingly
  adverb
• unaccusingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• accusing
  present
• accused
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• accuse
  simple
• accuses
  simple
• have accused
  perfect
• has accused
  perfect
• am accusing
  progressive
• are accusing
  progressive
• is accusing
  progressive
• have been accusing
  perfect progressive
• has been accusing
  perfect progressive

Past

• accused
  simple
• had accused
  perfect
• was accusing
  progressive
• were accusing
  progressive
• had been accusing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will accuse
  simple
• will have accused
  perfect
• will be accusing
  progressive
• will have been accusing
  perfect progressive

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

While the flames were still raging, then-Fire Chief Kristin Crowley went on local and national television to accuse city leaders of failing to give her department the resources it needed.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

The Open Seas coalition of scientists, activists and some fishermen accuse ministers of delaying action to protect at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters, and are preparing to present a petition at the Scottish parliament.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

The protesters accuse him and his government of a lack of transparency concerning the developments planned on the Albanian coast.

From Barron's • Jun. 20, 2026

“I can’t accuse anyone else of treason,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

“They’re trying to accuse me of gluing the telephone lock. They don’t trust me around here.”

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

Related Words

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