accuse

verb

ac·​cuse ə-ˈkyüz How to pronounce accuse (audio)
accused; accusing

transitive verb

1
: to charge with a fault or offense : blame
He accused her of being disloyal.
2
: to charge with an offense judicially or by a public process
He was accused of murder.
accuser noun

Examples of accuse in a Sentence

she was accused of lying on the employment application
Recent Examples on the Web He was accused of pretending to be a police officer in Washington Court House. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Tiara Edwards is accused of irresponsible gun ownership resulting in the death of Jamero L. Edwards of Milwaukee. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 In Al-Hol, meanwhile, his mother was accused by isis members of collaborating with authorities. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 He was accused of conspiring with drug cartels to move more than 400 tons of cocaine toward the United States. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Just after midnight Friday morning, the Civic driver is accused of intentionally ramming into a 52-year-old motorcyclist from Leesburg in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 near milepost 319 in Sumter County. Pilar Arias, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2024 He is accused of robbery in connection with Lord's attack. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 Michael Hart, 58, of San Diego, is accused of buying coolants in Mexico and smuggling them over the border in his vehicle, concealing the canisters under a tarp and tools. Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Everything to Know About Wendy Williams’ Guardianship In the days since the documentary aired, Williams' fans have accused Selby of taking advantage of her. Brianne Tracy, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acusen, accusen, borrowed from Anglo-French accuser, acuser, borrowed from Latin accūsāre "to blame, censure, charge with a crime," from ad- ad- + -cūsāre, verbal derivative of causa "legal case, reason, cause" — more at cause entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of accuse was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near accuse

Cite this Entry

“Accuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accuse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

accuse

verb
ac·​cuse ə-ˈkyüz How to pronounce accuse (audio)
accused; accusing
: to blame for wrongdoing : to charge with a fault and especially with a crime
accuser noun
accusingly adverb

Legal Definition

accuse

verb
ac·​cuse
accused; accusing

transitive verb

: to charge with an offense judicially or by a public process compare indict

intransitive verb

: to make or bring an accusation
accuser noun
Etymology

Latin accusare to find fault with, charge with a crime, from ad to, at + causa legal case, trial

More from Merriam-Webster on accuse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!