charge

The amount of money you must pay for something, especially a service.

• There is no charge for parking.
• The hotel added extra charges to our bill.
• What is the monthly charge for this service?

How to use it: a charge for something (There is a small charge for delivery.)

Similar words: fee, cost, price

Common phrases: service charge, delivery charge, extra charge, free of charge

Responsibility for looking after someone or managing something.

• Who is in charge here?
• She took charge of the project.
• The children were left in their uncle's charge.

How to use it: be in charge of someone/something (She is in charge of the kitchen.); take charge of someone/something (He took charge of the children for the afternoon.); in someone's charge (The keys were left in my charge.)

Similar words: responsibility, control, care

Common phrases: in charge, take charge, in someone's charge, charge of something

A statement that someone has done something wrong, especially an official accusation of a crime.

• He denied the charge.
• The police dropped all charges against her.
• She will appear in court on a charge of fraud.

How to use it: a charge of something (He faces a charge of theft.); a charge against someone (The court dismissed the charge against her.)

Similar words: accusation, allegation

Common phrases: a murder charge, face a charge, drop a charge, charge against someone

An attack in which people or animals rush towards someone.

• The soldiers began their charge.
• A sudden charge by the bull scattered the crowd.
• The enemy stopped two cavalry charges before sunset.

How to use it: a charge at someone/something (The bull made a charge at the gate.); a charge against someone/something (The soldiers launched a charge against the enemy.)

Similar words: assault, attack, rush

Opposites: retreat

Common phrases: cavalry charge, a sudden charge, lead a charge, charge at someone

A strong effort to make a change, especially one that someone leads.

• She led the charge for change.
• Local parents are leading the charge to save the school.
• Small businesses led the charge towards cleaner energy.

How to use it: lead the charge for something (Students led the charge for cheaper transport.); lead the charge to do something (The company led the charge to reduce packaging.)

Similar words: drive, push, campaign

Common phrases: lead the charge, charge for change, charge towards reform

A person, especially a child, whom someone is responsible for looking after.

• The nurse watched her young charge.
• He took his charges to the park.
• Each teacher made sure all their charges were safe.

Similar words: ward

Common phrases: a young charge, someone's charge, a teacher's charge

To ask someone to pay a particular amount for something you sell or a service you provide.

• How much do you charge?
• They charged us extra for breakfast.
• The shop charges five pounds to deliver your order.

How to use it: charge someone an amount for something (They charged me twenty euros for the repair.); charge for something (We do not charge for advice.); charge an amount to do something (He charges fifty pounds to fix a leaking tap.)

Similar words: ask for, bill

Common phrases: charge someone extra, charge for delivery, charge a fee, charge by weight

To put electricity into a battery or a device so you can use it again.

• I need to charge my phone.
• Have you charged the camera battery?
• The laptop charges slowly with this cable.

How to use it: charge something up (I need to charge my camera up.)

Similar words: recharge

Opposites: discharge

Common phrases: charge a battery, charge your phone, charge up something