Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense blames, present participle blaming, past tense, past participle blamed
1. verb
If you blame a person or thing for something bad, you believe or say that they are responsible for it or that they caused it.
The commission is expected to blame the army for many of the atrocities. [VERB noun + for]
The bank blamed the error on technological failings. [VERB noun + on]
If it wasn't Sam's fault, why was I blaming him? [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hold responsible, accuse, denounce, indict More Synonyms of blame
Blame is also a noun.
Nothing could relieve my terrible sense of blame.
2. uncountable noun
The blamefor something bad that has happened is the responsibility for causing it or letting it happen.
Some of the blame for the miscarriage of justice must be borne by the solicitors. [+ for]
The president put the blame squarely on his opponent.
3. verb
If you say that you do not blame someone for doing something, you mean that you consider it was a reasonable thing to do in the circumstances.
I do not blame them for trying to make some money. [VERB noun + for]
He slammed the door and stormed off. I could hardly blame him. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: criticize, charge, tax, blast More Synonyms of blame
4.
See to blame
5.
See have only oneself to blame/have no-one but oneself to blame
More Synonyms of blame
blame in British English
(bleɪm)
noun
1.
responsibility for something that is wrong or deserving censure; culpability
2.
an expression of condemnation; reproof
3. be to blame
verb(transitive)
4. (usually foll by for)
to attribute responsibility to; accuse
I blame him for the failure
5. (usually foll by on)
to ascribe responsibility for (something) to
I blame the failure on him
6.
to find fault with
Derived forms
blamable (ˈblamable) or blameable (ˈblameable)
adjective
blamably (ˈblamably) or blameably (ˈblameably)
adverb
Word origin
C12: from Old French blasmer, ultimately from Late Latin blasphēmāre to blaspheme
blame in American English
(bleɪm)
verb transitiveWord forms: blamed or ˈblaming
1.
to accuse of being at fault; condemn (for something); censure
2.
to find fault with (for something)
3.
to place responsibility for (an error, fault, etc.) on someone or something
noun
4.
the act of blaming; accusation; condemnation; censure
5.
responsibility for a fault or wrong
6. Obsolete
blameworthiness; fault
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcritiˌcize
Idioms:
be to blame
Word origin
ME blamen < OFr blasmer, to speak evil of < LL(Ec) blasphemare, blaspheme
Examples of 'blame' in a sentence
blame
They are also blamed for blocking pipes.
The Sun (2016)
Police said early investigations suggested a mechanical fault was to blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Some blame must be placed on planners.
The Sun (2017)
They are also blamed for an increase in motorcycle theft in the city.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Initial reports suggested that a technical fault was to blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That this could no longer happen was squarely blamed on Paul.
The Sun (2016)
But he rejected suggestions that his red card was down to a lack of discipline or the red mist and blamed it on bad technique.
The Sun (2017)
They provide a fab service but are always blamed when things go wrong.
The Sun (2010)
We stay in pain when we stay in fault and blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This idea can be blamed squarely on religion.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Tourists have also been blamed for damaging its coral reefs and marine fauna.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She blames us and says we messed up big time.
The Sun (2016)
Responsibility involves accepting blame for collective failure as well as credit for success.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Politicians are the culprits and they need to take the blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The blame is put on a rogue masseur.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She blames a mechanical failure in the heating system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Instead he says the players must shoulder the blame.
The Sun (2014)
People who lose things blame other people who move things.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is no fault and no blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They point the finger of blame squarely at me.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He takes no responsibility and always blames somebody else.
The Sun (2010)
The blame gets put on me because it is easier for the company.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He blamed its failure on his hectic work schedule.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Can we accept that the blame must be shared by the society that sanctioned him?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
No one takes the blame when things go wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And many will also suggest that no team can really blame bad luck over such an extended period.
The Sun (2009)
The usual suspect takes the blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Everybody is to blame in some way, shape or form.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The airline denied liability, blaming bad weather on a previous flight for the delay.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Everybody is to blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Can't say I blame you.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
blame
British English: blame /bleɪm/ VERB
If you blame a person or thing for something bad, you believe or say that they are responsible for it or that they caused it.
The commission is expected to blame the army for many of the atrocities.
American English: blame
Arabic: يَلومُ
Brazilian Portuguese: culpar
Chinese: 责备
Croatian: okriviti
Czech: obvinit
Danish: give skylden
Dutch: schuld geven aan
European Spanish: culpar
Finnish: syyttää
French: reprocher
German: beschuldigen
Greek: κατηγορώ
Italian: accusare
Japanese: 責める
Korean: 비난하다
Norwegian: klandre
Polish: obwinić
European Portuguese: culpar
Romanian: a învinui
Russian: обвинять
Latin American Spanish: culpar
Swedish: skylla på
Thai: ตำหนิ
Turkish: suçlamak
Ukrainian: звинувачувати
Vietnamese: đổ lỗi
British English: blame /bleɪm/ NOUN
The blamefor something bad that has happened is the responsibility for causing it or letting it happen.
Nothing could relieve my terrible sense of blame.
American English: blame
Arabic: لَوْم
Brazilian Portuguese: culpa
Chinese: 责备
Croatian: krivnja
Czech: vina
Danish: skyld
Dutch: schuld verantwoordelijkheid
European Spanish: culpa responsabilidad
Finnish: syy
French: faute accuser
German: Schuld
Greek: φταίξιμο
Italian: colpa
Japanese: 非難
Korean: 비난
Norwegian: skyld
Polish: wina
European Portuguese: culpa
Romanian: vină
Russian: винá
Latin American Spanish: culpa
Swedish: skuld
Thai: การตำหนิ คำติเตียน
Turkish: suç
Ukrainian: провина
Vietnamese: lỗi
All related terms of 'blame'
to blame
If someone is to blame for something bad that has happened , they are responsible for causing it.
blame culture
the tendency to look for one person or organization that can be held responsible for a bad state of affairs , an accident , etc
be to blame
to be at fault or culpable
blame an error
An error is something you have done which is considered to be incorrect or wrong , or which should not have been done.
blame a shortage
If there is a shortage of something, there is not enough of it.
blame the weather
The weather is the condition of the atmosphere in one area at a particular time, for example if it is raining , hot, or windy .
to point the finger of suspicion point the finger of blame
To point the finger of suspicion or blame at someone means to make people suspect them of doing wrong or blame them for doing wrong.
have only oneself to blame/have no-one but oneself to blame
If you say that someone has only themselves to blame or has no-one but themselves to blame , you mean that they are responsible for something bad that has happened to them and that you have no sympathy for them.
Chinese translation of 'blame'
blame
(bleɪm)
n(u)
(for mistake, crime) 责(責)备(備) (zébèi)
vt
to blame sb for sth为(為)某事责(責)备(備)某人 (wèi mǒushì zébèi mǒurén)
to take the blame (for sth)(对(對)某事)负(負)责(責) ((duì mǒushì) fùzé)
to be to blame (for sth)该(該)(为(為)某事)负(負)责(責)任 (gāi (wèi mǒushì) fù zérèn)
to blame sth on sb把某事归(歸)咎于(於)某人 (bǎ mǒushì guījiù yú mǒurén)
you can't blame him for trying你不能怪他去尝(嘗)试(試) (nǐ bùnéng guài tā qù chángshì)
who's to blame?是谁(誰)的责(責)任？ (shì shuí de zérèn?)
I'm not to blame责(責)任不在我 (zérèn bù zài wǒ)
All related terms of 'blame'
who's to blame?
是谁(誰)的责(責)任？ shì shuí de zérèn?
I'm not to blame
责(責)任不在我 zérèn bù zài wǒ
to blame sth on sb
把某事归(歸)咎于(於)某人 bǎ mǒushì guījiù yú mǒurén
to blame sb for sth
为(為)某事责(責)备(備)某人 wèi mǒushì zébèi mǒurén
to pin the blame on sb
推说(說)是某人的责(責)任 tuīshuō shì mǒurén de zérèn
you can't blame him for trying
你不能怪他去尝(嘗)试(試) nǐ bùnéng guài tā qù chángshì
to lay the blame for sth on sb
因某事责(責)怪某人 yīn mǒushì zéguài mǒurén
they've got no-one but themselves to blame
他们(們)只有责(責)备(備)自己 tāmen zhǐyǒu zébèi zìjǐ
to be to blame (for sth)
该(該)(为(為)某事)负(負)责(責)任 gāi (wèi mǒushì) fù zérèn
to take the blame (for sth)
(对(對)某事)负(負)责(責) (duì mǒushì) fùzé
1 (verb)
Definition
to consider (someone) responsible for
They blamed the army for most of the atrocities.
Synonyms
hold responsible
accuse
Her assistant was accused of theft and fraud by the police.
denounce
Informers might at any moment denounce them to the authorities.
indict
She was later indicted on corruption charges.
impeach
an opposition move to impeach the President
incriminate
He claimed that the drugs had been planted to incriminate him.
impute
recriminate
point a or the finger at
Opposites
clear
, excuse,
forgive
,
acquit
,
vindicate
,
exonerate
,
absolve
2 (verb)
Definition
to put responsibility for (something) on (someone)
The police blamed the accident on black ice.
Synonyms
attribute to
credit to
assign to
put down to
ascribe to
impute to
3 (verb)
I do not blame them for trying to make some money.
Synonyms
criticize
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
charge
tax
Writers to the letters column taxed me with shallowness.
blast
They have blasted the report.
condemn
Political leaders united yesterday to condemn the latest wave of violence.
flame (informal)
put down
disapprove of
censure
I would not presume to censure him for his views.
reproach
She is quick to reproach anyone.
chide
He is quick to chide his staff for any mistakes or oversights.
admonish
They admonished me for taking risks with my health.
tear into (informal)
diss (slang)
find fault with
reprove
Women were reproved if they did not wear hats.
upbraid
Eleanor upbraided him for things he'd left undone.
lambast(e)
reprehend
express disapprobation of
Opposites
praise
,
acclaim
, compliment,
approve of
,
commend
,
big up (slang, mainly Caribbean)
1 (noun)
Definition
responsibility for something that is wrong
I could not let an innocent man take the blame for this.
Synonyms
responsibility
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
liability
They admit liability, but dispute the amount of his claim.
rap (slang)
You'll be facing a federal rap for aiding and abetting an escaped convict.
accountability
an impetus towards democracy and greater accountability
onus
The onus was on the Italians to find a solution.
culpability
He added there was clear culpability on the part of the government.
answerability
Opposites
credit
,
honour
,
praise
,
tribute
,
acclaim
,
commendation
,
Brownie points
2 (noun)
Definition
an expression of condemnation
Synonyms
condemnation
There was widespread condemnation of Saturday's riots.
charge
stick (slang)
It's not motorists who give you the most stick, it's the general public.
criticism
The policy had repeatedly come under strong criticism.
complaint
censure
It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
reproach
He looked at her with reproach.
recrimination
reproof
a reproof that she responded to right away
castigation
Helen's merciless castigation of her staff in public
phrase
See to blame
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accountability
an impetus towards democracy and greater accountability
Synonyms
responsibility,
liability,
culpability,
answerability,
chargeability
in the sense of accuse
Definition
to charge a person with wrongdoing
Her assistant was accused of theft and fraud by the police.
Synonyms
charge with,
indict for,
impeach for,
arraign for,
cite,
tax with,
censure with,
incriminate for,
recriminate for
in the sense of admonish
Definition
to reprimand sternly
They admonished me for taking risks with my health.
Synonyms
reprimand,
caution,
censure,
rebuke,
scold,
berate,
check,
chide,
tear into (informal),
tell off (informal),
reprove,
upbraid,
read the riot act to someone,
carpet (informal),
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
tear someone off a strip (British, informal),
give someone a rocket (British, New Zealand, informal),