- 1 [countable, uncountable] charge (for something) the amount of money that somebody asks for goods and services We have to make a small charge for refreshments. admission charges Delivery is free of charge. Synonymsratecharge fee rent fine fare toll rentalThese are all words for an amount of money that is charged or paid for something.rate a fixed amount of money that is asked or paid for something:a low hourly rate of pay interest ratescharge an amount of money that is asked for goods or services:an admission chargefee (rather formal) an amount of money that you have to pay for professional advice or services, to go to a school or college, or to join an organization:legal fees an annual membership fee rent an amount of money that you regularly have to pay for use of a building or room. In American English, rent can be used to mean rental:The weekly rent on the car was over $300.fine a sum of money that must be paid as punishment for breaking a law or rule:a parking finefare the money that you pay to travel by bus, plane, taxi, etc.toll an amount of money that you have to pay to use a particular road or bridge.rental an amount of money that you have to pay to use something for a particular period of time.rent or rental?In British English rent is only money paid to use a building or room: for other items use rental. In American English rent can be used for both, but rental is still more common for other items.Patterns (a) rate/charge/fee/rent/fine/fare/toll/rental for something (a) rate/charge/fee/rent/toll/rental on something at a rate/charge/fee/rent/fare/rental of… for a charge/fee to pay (a) rate/charge/fee/rent/fine/fare/toll/rental to charge (a) rate/fee/rent/fare/toll/rental Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveheavy, high, nominal, … verb + chargeimpose, introduce, levy, … prepositionat a charge, for a charge, charge for, … phrasesfree of charge See full entry See related entries: Banking
- 2[countable, uncountable] (North American English, informal) = account (3), charge account, credit account Would you like to put that on your charge? ‘Are you paying cash?’ ‘No, it'll be a charge.’ of crime/something wrong
- 3 [countable, uncountable] an official claim made by the police that somebody has committed a crime criminal charges a murder/an assault charge He will be sent back to England to face a charge of (= to be on trial for) armed robbery. They decided to drop the charges against the newspaper and settle out of court. After being questioned by the police, she was released without charge. a charge of theft/rape/attempted murder CollocationsCriminal justiceBreaking the law break/violate/obey/uphold the law be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud face two charges of indecent assault admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something) deny the allegations/claims/charges confess to a crime grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bailThe legal process stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court face/avoid/escape prosecution seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock plead guilty/not guilty to a crime be called to/enter (British English) the witness box take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody raise/withdraw/overrule an objection reach a unanimous/majority verdict return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death convict/acquit the defendant of the crime secure a conviction/your acquittal lodge/file an appeal appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdictSentencing and punishment pass sentence on somebody carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence receive/be given the death penalty be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail) carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment) be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder do/serve time/ten years be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison be/put somebody/spend X years on death row be granted/be denied/break (your) parole crime Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegrave, heavy, serious, … verb + chargebring, file, lay, … charge + verballege something charge + nounsheet prepositionon a/the charge, without charge, charge against, … phrasesbring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), … See full entry
- 4 [countable] a statement accusing somebody of doing something wrong or bad synonym allegation She rejected the charge that the story was untrue. Be careful you don't leave yourself open to charges of political bias. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegrave, heavy, serious, … verb + chargebring, file, lay, … charge + verballege something charge + nounsheet prepositionon a/the charge, without charge, charge against, … phrasesbring charges (against somebody), prefer charges (against somebody), press charges (against somebody), … See full entry responsibility
- 5 [uncountable] a position of having control over somebody/something; responsibility for somebody/something She has charge of the day-to-day running of the business. They left the au pair in charge of the children for a week. He took charge of the farm after his father's death. I'm leaving the school in your charge. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveoverall, personal, sole, … verb + chargehave, take, place somebody in, … prepositionin charge (of somebody/something), in somebody’s charge, under somebody’s charge, … See full entry
- 6[countable] (formal or humorous) a person that you have responsibility for and care for electricity
- 7 [countable, uncountable] the amount of electricity that is put into a battery or carried by a substance a positive/negative charge See related entries: Molecules and matter
- 8the act of putting electricity into a battery or the time when this happens He put his phone on charge. Wordfinderelectricitybattery, charge, conduct, connect, electricity, generate, insulate, power, switch, wire rush/attack
- 9[countable] a sudden rush or violent attack, for example by soldiers, wild animals or players in some sports He led the charge down the field. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebaton, cavalry verb + chargelead See full entry explosive
- 10[countable] the amount of explosive needed to fire a gun or make an explosion see also depth charge strong feeling
- 11[singular] the power to cause strong feelings the emotional charge of the piano piece task
- 12[singular] (formal) a task or duty His charge was to obtain specific information. Word OriginMiddle English (in the general senses ‘to load’ and ‘a load’), from Old French charger (verb), charge (noun), from late Latin carricare, carcare ‘to load’, from Latin carrus ‘wheeled vehicle’.Extra examples All changes will incur a charge. Allen led the charge, but could they get a goal back? At the police station a charge sheet was made out. He accused the government of fabricating the charges for political reasons. He has admitted the murder charge. He was found guilty on a reduced charge of assault. I need to feel more in charge of my life. John has been put in charge of marketing. Many victims of crime are reluctant to press charges against their attackers. Police have brought a charge of dangerous driving against the man. She appeared in court on charges of kidnapping and assault. She is almost certain to face criminal charges. She took personal charge of the files. Stephen will resume sole charge for the time being. The bugle sounded the charge. The charges against you have been dropped. The charges will be difficult to prove. The child is under my charge until her mother returns. The company agreed to pay $20 million to settle insider-trading charges. The company has managed to avoid criminal charges in this case. The company will deliver free of charge. The conductor has overall charge of the train. The court dismissed the charge against him. The hotel operates a bus service to the beach for a small charge. The prime minister dismissed the charge that he had misled Parliament. There is a quarterly standing charge. There is no charge for cashing traveller’s cheques. They agreed to waive the cancellation charges. They were driven back by a police baton charge. This service is available at a nominal charge. We make a small charge for wrapping your gift. We need somebody to take charge of the financial side. Young people are leading the charge to clean up the city. a charge of armed robbery a charge on company profits a film in which every scene carries an emotional charge charges relating to the embezzlement of public funds new charges alleging the misuse of funds to be detained/held/released without charge After being questioned by the police, she was released without charge. Be careful that you don’t leave yourself open to charges of political bias. Delivery is free of charge. He took charge of the farm after his father’s death. I get a real charge out of working hard and seeing good results. I’m leaving the school in your charge. The investigation resulted in criminal charges against three police officers. The museum has introduced a £3 admission charge. They left the nanny in charge of the children for a week.Idioms
money
(law) to accuse somebody formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court See related entries: The police
(North American English) to get a strong feeling of excitement or pleasure from something
Check pronunciation: charge
