BLAME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does blame mean? 

• BLAME (noun)
  The noun BLAME has 2 senses:

1. an accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed

2. a reproach for some lapse or misdeed

  Familiarity information: BLAME used as a noun is rare.

• BLAME (adjective)
  The adjective BLAME has 1 sense:

1. expletives used informally as intensifiers

  Familiarity information: BLAME used as an adjective is very rare.

• BLAME (verb)
  The verb BLAME has 3 senses:

1. put or pin the blame on

2. harass with constant criticism

3. attribute responsibility to

  Familiarity information: BLAME used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLAME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

blame; incrimination; inculpation

Context example:

the police laid the blame on the driver

Hypernyms ("blame" is a kind of...):

accusal; accusation (a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blame"):

self-incrimination (an accusation that incriminates yourself)

Derivation:

blame (attribute responsibility to)

blame (put or pin the blame on)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A reproach for some lapse or misdeed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

blame; rap

Context example:

it was a bum rap

Hypernyms ("blame" is a kind of...):

reproach (a mild rebuke or criticism)

Derivation:

blame (harass with constant criticism)

blameworthy (deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious)

• BLAME (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Expletives used informally as intensifiers

Synonyms:

blame; blamed; blasted; blessed; damn; damned; darned; deuced; goddam; goddamn; goddamned; infernal

Context example:

an infernal nuisance

Similar:

cursed; curst (deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier)

• BLAME (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they blame    ... he / she / it blames   
Past simple: blamed   
Past participle: blamed   
-ing form: blaming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put or pin the blame on

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

blame; fault

Hypernyms (to "blame" is one way to...):

accuse; charge (blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Antonym:

absolve (let off the hook)

Derivation:

blamable (deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious)

blame (an accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed)

blameable (deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Harass with constant criticism

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

blame; find fault; pick

Context example:

Don't always pick on your little brother

Hypernyms (to "blame" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

blame (a reproach for some lapse or misdeed)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Attribute responsibility to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

blame; charge

Context example:

The tragedy was charged to her inexperience

Hypernyms (to "blame" is one way to...):

ascribe; assign; attribute; impute (attribute or credit to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

blamable (deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious)

blame (an accusation that you are responsible for some lapse or misdeed)

blameable (deserving blame or censure as being wrong or evil or injurious)

 Context examples 

Investigators blame low levels of fatty acids in the diet of pregnant women.

(Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Asthma Risk in Children by One-Third, VOA)

Jo laughed noiselessly all through the hall, but Amy looked disgusted at the failure of her instructions, and very naturally laid the blame upon Jo.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"I'd a blame sight sooner think that than anything else. You noticed yourself the row the dogs made."

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Still, these findings and others, such as how asthma often improves with weight loss, suggests obesity plays a key role or is directly to blame.

(Obesity May Be to Blame for Quarter of Asthma Cases in Children, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Nobody could be blamed for it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Also, it is not clear which air pollution constituent might be to blame.

(Pollution Linked to Significant Decline in Human Cognition, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

I blamed none of those who repulsed me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but there is little evidence that foods have much effect on acne in most people.

(Acne, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

That your praise can make a man and your blame can break him?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Previous research with Spitzer and NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer suggested a swarm of comets may be to blame for the short-period dimming.

(Mysterious Dimming of Tabby's Star May Be Caused by Dust, NASA)