verb (used with object), blamed, blam·ing.
- to hold responsible; find fault with; censure: I don’t blame you for leaving him.
- to place the responsibility for (a fault, error, etc.) (usually followed by on): I blame the accident on her.
- Informal. blast; damn (used as a mild curse): Blame the rotten luck.
noun
- an act of attributing fault; censure; reproof: The judge said he found nothing to justify blame in the accident.
- responsibility for anything deserving of censure: We must all share the blame for this deplorable condition.
- to blame, at fault; censurable: I am to blame for his lateness.
noun
- responsibility for something that is wrong or deserving censure; culpability
- an expression of condemnation; reproof
- be to blame to be at fault or culpable
verb (tr)
- (usually foll by for) to attribute responsibility to; accuseI blame him for the failure
- (usually foll by on) to ascribe responsibility for (something) toI blame the failure on him
- to find fault with
c.1200, “find fault with;” c.1300, “lay blame on,” from Old French blasmer (12c., Modern French blâmer) “to rebuke, reprimand, condemn, criticize,” from Vulgar Latin *blastemare, from Late Latin blasphemare “revile, reproach” (see blaspheme). Replaced Old English witan with long “i.” Related: Blamed; blaming.
early 13c., from Old French blasme “blame, reproach; condemnation,” a back-formation from blasmer (see blame (v.)).
see lay (the blame) on; to blame.