charge
CHAHJ
Charge (noun) means an amount of money asked for a service or product. Example: “The restaurant adds a service charge to every bill for large groups.”
noun
1
An amount of money asked for a service or product.
"The restaurant adds a service charge to every bill for large groups."
"There's a small charge for delivery."
"The bank added a charge for the overdraft."
2
A formal accusation that someone has committed a crime.
"The charge against her was dropped when the evidence turned out to be weak."
"He appeared in court to face a charge of theft."
"He was arrested on a charge of fraud."
3
A sudden, forceful rush forward, especially in an attack.
"The crowd scattered when the bull made a sudden charge."
"The goalkeeper's charge out of the box surprised everyone on the pitch."
"The cavalry launched a charge across the open field."
verb
1
To ask someone to pay a particular amount.
"The garage will charge you extra if the repair takes longer than expected."
"How much do they charge for a haircut round here?"
"The plumber charged us fifty pounds for the visit."
2
To formally accuse someone of a crime.
"The prosecutor decided to charge her with dangerous driving."
"He was charged with breaking into the shop after hours."
"Police charged the man with theft."
3
To rush forward quickly and forcefully, especially to attack.
"The children charged down the hill towards the ice cream van."
"Water buffalo will charge if you get too close to their calves."
"The bull lowered its head and charged."
4
To restore energy to a battery or a device using electricity.
"I need to charge my laptop because the battery is nearly flat."
"The electric car takes all night to charge in the garage."
"Remember to charge your phone before the trip."
How to use charge
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCovers a fee for something, a formal criminal accusation, a forceful rush forward, or refilling a battery.
Common pairings
free of charge
press charges
charge a battery
lead the charge
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Word forms
- Plural
- charges
- Third person singular
- charges
- Past tense
- charged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The restaurant adds a service _____ to every bill for large groups.
Etymology
From Old French chargier ("to load"), from Late Latin carricare, from Latin carrus ("a wagon") — the same root as "car" and "cargo".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for charge
See all rhymes for charge →Frequently asked questions
What does “charge” mean?
The word “charge” means an amount of money asked for a service or product. In plain terms, covers a fee for something, a formal criminal accusation, a forceful rush forward, or refilling a battery.
How do you pronounce “charge”?
“Charge” is pronounced CHAHJ (/ˈt͡ʃɑɹd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “charge” in a sentence?
Here is “charge” used in a sentence: “There's a small charge for delivery.”
What part of speech is “charge”?
Depending on how it is used, “charge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “charge” come from?
The word “charge” comes from Late Latin. From Old French chargier ("to load"), from Late Latin carricare, from Latin carrus ("a wagon") — the same root as "car" and "cargo".
Is “charge” a common word?
“Charge” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “charge” have?
“Charge” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an amount of money asked for a service or product.
What is the difference between a charge and a fee?
The two overlap heavily. A charge is the amount asked for a particular product or service, while a fee is usually a fixed or official price for a service, membership, or professional work, like a lawyer's fee. In everyday use they are often interchangeable.
What is the difference between a charge and a cost?
A charge is what a seller asks you to pay; a cost is what something takes to produce or what you end up spending. The charge is set by the provider, while cost describes the value from the buyer's or maker's side. They frequently refer to the same amount.
What is an example of a charge?
Common examples include a delivery charge added to an online order, a service charge on a restaurant bill, a cover charge to enter a venue, or a bank's charge for an overdraft. In each case, it is a specific amount asked in exchange for something.
Does 'charge' always mean money?
No. In this sense it means a price asked for something, but charge has other meanings too, such as a formal accusation in law, a duty or responsibility, or storing electrical energy in a battery. Context makes clear which is meant; here it refers to money.
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