blame

BLAYM/bleɪm/

7 meanings of blame

1
hold responsibleverbtransitive
To say that a person or thing caused something bad.
Like pointing your finger at the person you think did something wrong.
Don't blame me for the broken window. I wasn't even home.
She blamed her brother for losing the keys.
UsageSay blame a person for something, or blame something on a person.
Note
2
faultnoununcountable
The fact of being the one who caused something bad.
Like a heavy bag that gets handed to whoever caused the problem.
The blame for the mess fell on the youngest kids.
He accepted the blame even though it wasn't all his fault.
UsageSay take the blame, or put the blame on someone.
3
criticizeverbtransitive
To criticize someone or something, saying they have done wrong.
Good teachers praise their students much more often than they blame them.
You were very tired, so I don't blame you for going home early.
UsageIt often goes with praise: praise or blame.
Similarfault, criticize, censure, condemn
Oppositepraise, commend
Note
4
noununcountable
Strong words of disapproval for something a person has done.
Children learn more from kind words than from blame.
Her angry letter was full of blame and hurt feelings.
UsageIt often has no a or the before it: words of blame.
Similarcriticism, censure, condemnation, reproach
Oppositepraise

Less common meanings

5
mild curseadjectivedated
A mild word used instead of 'damn' to add emphasis, often when someone is annoyed.
"Where did I put my blame glasses?" Grandpa grumbled.
“What do you want with one of those blame things?” / I asked him well beforehand. “Don’t you get one!”
1923, Robert Frost, “[Notes.] The Star-splitter.”
UsageIt goes before a noun: that blame cat.
Similardarn, dang, blasted, blooming
Note
6
verbobsolete
To harm someone's good name or make people think badly of them.
For knighthoods loue, do not so foule a deed, / Ne blame your honour with so shamefull vaunt / Of vile reuenge.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, blame means to damage or spoil, as in harming your good name.
Note
7
noun
A computer tool that shows who last changed each line of a program's code.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 2, 4

It came from Old French "blame" and its verb "blasmer," which came from Late Latin and Greek. It is a doublet of "blaspheme."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Blame derives from Old French blame and its source verb blasmer. en.wiktionary.org
Old French blasmer ultimately derives from Late Latin and Ancient Greek. en.wiktionary.org
Blame and blaspheme are doublets. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 5–6

Its roots are in Greek and in Late Latin "blasphēmāre" (to reproach). Old French made it "blasmer," and English took it from there. It is a doublet of "blaspheme."