press charges
idiom
: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime
He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.
Examples of press charges in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Heagney said the names of the husband and wife who left the dog and fabricated the story will not be released at this time, adding that the incident isn't enough to press charges.
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Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Garrett said Burchett had declined to press charges as offered by Capitol Police.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
One of the men fled, while the other declined to press charges.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The Johnsons ultimately chose not to press charges out of fear that pursuing the case would expose personal details and put their family’s safety at risk.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for press charges
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Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Garrett said Burchett had declined to press charges as offered by Capitol Police.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
One of the men fled, while the other declined to press charges.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The Johnsons ultimately chose not to press charges out of fear that pursuing the case would expose personal details and put their family’s safety at risk.
—Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for press charges
Cite this Entry
“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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