blame
Americanverb (used with object)
-
blames,
present (3rd person singular)
-
blamed,
past participle, past
-
blaming
present participle
-
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.
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Informal. blast; damn (used as a mild curse).
Blame the rotten luck.
noun
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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
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responsibility for something that is wrong or deserving censure; culpability
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an expression of condemnation; reproof
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to be at fault or culpable
verb
-
(usually foll by for) to attribute responsibility to; accuse
I blame him for the failure
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(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
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blamernoun
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self-blamenoun
-
overblameverb (used with object)
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blamableadjective
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unblamingadjective
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blamablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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blamesimple
-
blamessimple
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have blamedperfect
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has blamedperfect
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am blamingprogressive
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are blamingprogressive
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is blamingprogressive
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have been blamingperfect progressive
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has been blamingperfect progressive
Past
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blamedsimple
-
had blamedperfect
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was blamingprogressive
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were blamingprogressive
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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
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"The Jacket"
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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:
An independent grand jury report found that it was the contractor, not the airport, largely to blame, while also questioning outside consultants over the original project contract.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Members of the Bush team say that his refusal to blame anyone except himself reinvigorated their efforts and reinforced their loyalty to the man who had shown loyalty to them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
When asked who they blame for spiking costs, the answer was swift.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
You can grieve the loss of your childhood home without assigning blame.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
I think about blocking his number, but part of me wants to see that he’s trying, even if it’s to blame me for everything he did.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Let’s use this moment to confront a culture that disbelieves children, blames victims, and protects those who abuse them—and demand better from our politicians, our institutions, and ourselves.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026
Another resident, Andreza Dionísio, blames high abstention rates here on both last-minute changes to polling station locations, but also "a sense of hopelessness about the future."
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Since 1982, 40 horses working in Central Park have died, according to the Manhattan Borough President's office, which blames issues including overheating and collisions.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Cohen blames other departments’ delays in turning over data as part of the reason for its chronic lateness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
“Lord Wyman blames himself. To hear him tell it, he had become especially fond of Rhaegar.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
The trade deficit’s rise could be blamed on the goods imported by U.S. companies to support the AI build-out, such as computer chips.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Instead of the Ivory Coast-Sahel row, the official blamed the political situation in the Sahel countries -- which are all wracked by a long-running and bloody jihadist insurgency -- for "reducing the mobility of artists".
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
The company’s operating margin remained negative, which it blamed on a less-favorable mix of aircraft deliveries and higher supply-chain costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
He blamed her—rightfully—for not securing Diko’s lead and inciting panic in the Hema, but it seemed he didn’t know about the candle.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
The connection here may be simple: People who personally engage in victim blaming agree that victims, including victims of rape, are blameworthy.
From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026
His colleagues agree, also blaming the turbines -- as well as competition from Indian trawlers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
The contractor has sued the city, blaming it for delays, but the grand jury suggested it was the contractor who caused the delays, essentially holding out for payment of $550 million in settlement claims.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
Although the companies aren’t publicly blaming AI, the technology has been a factor, people familiar with the matter say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Why, we sounded as though we were blaming you and we didn’t mean to. Or maybe we did mean to. And we’re sorry.”
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
