blame
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /bleɪm/
KK: /bleɪm/
noun
Definition
The act of saying that someone is responsible for something bad that happened.
Example
She took the blame for the mistake at work.
Conversation
I can't believe we lost the game last night.
I know, it was so disappointing.
I feel like there's so much blame to go around.
Yeah, but we should just learn from it and move on.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
fault
guilt
responsibility
Antonyms
praise
exoneration
innocence
transitive verb
Definition
To say that someone is responsible for something bad that happened.
Example
She didn't want to blame anyone for the mistake.
Tense Forms
Past: blamed
Past Participle: blamed
Conversation
I can't believe she would blame you for the mistake.
I know, right? It was a team effort after all.
It's just frustrating because it wasn't solely my fault.
Root Explanation
Blame originates from Old French 'blamer', meaning to reproach or censure. The word conveys the act of attributing fault or responsibility to someone.
Memory Tip
Think of the Old French word 'blamer' which means to reproach — this helps you remember that to blame someone is to reproach them for something.
Visually Confused Words
lame
blae
reblame
lamel
flame
clame
blaze
blate