What is charge? Pronunciation and usage in English

charge means . Learn how to pronounce and use charge through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of charge

chargeverb/noun

/tʃɑːdʒ/
Definition & pronunciation of charge

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "charge" in English. There are a couple of ways it's pronounced, depending on the context. Here's a breakdown:

1. "Charge" as in "to attack" or "to take a risk" (verb):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɑːrdʒ/ (This is the most common pronunciation)
  • Breakdown:
    • ˈtʃɑːrdʒ: This is the core of the word.
      • ˈtʃ - Sounds like "ch" as in "chair." It's a short, sharp "ch" sound.
      • ɑː – This is a broad "a" sound, like in "father" or "car." It's a longer vowel sound.
      • rdʒ – This is tricky! It's pronounced like "rdj" – almost like "red-jee." Don't worry too much about getting this perfectly, but aiming for that blend is helpful.

2. "Charge" as in "electric charge" (noun):

  • Pronunciation: /tʃɑːrdʒ/ (Same as the verb pronunciation)
  • Breakdown: Same as above.

Resources to Help You Hear It:

Tips for Practice:

  • Start slowly: Don't try to rush. Focus on getting each sound correct.
  • Listen and repeat: Listen to recordings and mimic the sounds.
  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying "charge" and compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you some example sentences to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word charge in English

Let's break down how to use the word "charge" in English. It's a remarkably versatile word with many different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by its common usages:

1. As a Verb (To accuse/blame):

  • Meaning: To claim that someone did something wrong or is responsible for something bad.
  • Examples:
    • "The police are charging him with robbery." (Accusing him)
    • "I charge you with negligence." (Formally accusing someone)
    • "They charged him with spreading false rumors." (Blaming him)

2. As a Verb (To demand payment):

  • Meaning: To ask for or demand money for a service or product.
  • Examples:
    • "The hotel charged us $200 per night." (Demanding payment)
    • "The shop charged me $10 for the book." (Asking for money)
    • "The company charged a late fee for the overdue payment." (Demanding payment)

3. As a Verb (To power something):

  • Meaning: To provide electricity to something.
  • Examples:
    • "You need to charge your phone." (Charging with electricity)
    • "The solar panels charge the batteries." (Charging using sunlight)
    • "The laptop charges while it's plugged in." (Charging with electricity)

4. As a Noun (A formal accusation):

  • Meaning: A formal accusation presented in court. (Often used in legal contexts)
  • Examples:
    • "The prosecutor presented a strong charge against the defendant."
    • "He faced a serious charge of fraud."

5. As a Noun (A fee/price):

  • Meaning: A sum of money asked for a service, product, or activity.
  • Examples:
    • "There's a charge for using the internet."
    • "The conference fee includes a registration charge."
    • "A service charge may apply."

6. As a Noun (A military expedition/attack):

  • Meaning: A military operation or offensive.
  • Examples:
    • "The army launched a charge against the enemy lines." (A forceful advance)
    • "The historical narrative describes the charge of the cavalry."

7. As a Noun (Emotion/Energy):

  • Meaning: A strong feeling, such as anger, excitement, or enthusiasm.
  • Examples:
    • "He felt a surge of charge as he entered the arena." (Energy/excitement)
    • "The speech was full of charge." (Emotion)

8. As a Noun (The part of a battery that holds electrical energy):

  • Meaning: The component of a battery that stores electricity.
  • Example: "The charge in the battery is low."

Tips for Choosing the Right Meaning:

  • Context is key! The surrounding words will usually tell you which meaning is intended.
  • Consider the subject: Is it about money, law, electronics, or something else?

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to do with the word "charge"? (e.g., "I'm writing a sentence about charging a phone," or "I need to understand how to use it in a legal context.")

Synonyms for the word charge

Idioms of the word charge

bring/press/lay/prefer charges against somebody
(law)to accuse somebody formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court
  • Police have brought a charge of dangerous driving against the man.
  • Many victims of crime are reluctant to press charges against their attackers.
  • She laid charges against the firm for not complying with the regulations.
get a charge out of something
(North American English)to get a strong feeling of excitement or pleasure from something
  • I get a real charge out of working hard and seeing good results.
lead the charge
to be the first to make the effort to do something new
  • Denmark, Norway and Sweden are united in leading the charge to a cash-free economy.

Practice with vocabulary charge

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The hotel will __________ your credit card for the room service you ordered.
  2. She was appointed to __________ the new project at work.
  3. The company decided to __________ the pricing strategy to attract more customers.
  4. He was asked to __________ the meeting while the manager was away.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which word means "to demand payment"?
    a) Charge b) Request c) Donate d) Supply
  2. Who is responsible for leading the team in the manager’s absence?
    a) Supervise b) Charge c) Assist d) Coordinate
  3. What does "take charge" mean?
    a) To pay for something b) To assume responsibility c) To criticize someone d) To cancel an order
  4. Which word is closest in meaning to "accuse"?
    a) Blame b) Charge c) Compliment d) Ignore
  5. What is another word for "fee"?
    a) Cost b) Charge c) Discount d) Gift

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: She was responsible for managing the team.
    Rewrite: She was in __________ of managing the team.
  2. Original: The company demanded payment for the services rendered.
    Rewrite: The company __________ for the services rendered.
  3. Original: He was asked to lead the emergency response.
    Rewrite: He was asked to __________ the emergency response.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. charge
  2. charge
  3. adjust
  4. oversee

Exercise 2:

  1. a) Charge
  2. b) Charge
  3. b) To assume responsibility
  4. b) Charge
  5. b) Charge

Exercise 3:

  1. She was in charge of managing the team.
  2. The company charged for the services rendered.
  3. He was asked to lead the emergency response. (Rewrite does not use "charge.")

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