# accuse

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈkjuːz/ · frequency rank #10,975

## Definitions
1. To find fault with, blame, censure.
2. To charge with having committed a crime or offence.
3. To make an accusation against someone.

## Etymology
First attested around 1300. From Middle English acusen, from Old French acuser, from Latin accūsō (“to call to account, accuse”), from ad (“to”) + causa (“cause, lawsuit, reason”). Akin to cause. Displaced native English bewray.

## Easily confused with
- **acute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-acute)
- **amuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-amuse)
- **arouse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-arouse)
- **accused** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-accused)
- **accuses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-accuses)
- **accuser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accuse-vs-accuser)
- **abuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abuse-vs-accuse)
- **access** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/access-vs-accuse)
- **accrue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accrue-vs-accuse)
- **accursed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accursed-vs-accuse)

## Common misspellings (5)
`accsue`, `accues`, `accusse`, `acucse`, `cacuse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/accuse