# blaming

/ˈbɫeɪmɪŋ/ (US) · /blˈeɪmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blaming
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. accusing someone

verb · CEFR B1

saying that someone is responsible for something bad that happened.

For teachers: attributing responsibility or fault to a person or entity for a specific failure or negative event.

- Stop blaming your brother for the mess in the kitchen.
- The public is increasingly blaming the government for the sudden rise in energy costs over the winter months.

Usage: Often follows the pattern 'blaming someone for something'.

### 2. the act of assigning fault

noun · CEFR B2

the act of pointing out who is at fault.

For teachers: the action of assigning culpability or responsibility, often used as a gerund in subject or object positions.

- Constant blaming will not help us solve the problem.
- The culture of blaming within the department prevented the team from identifying the actual technical root of the failure.

Usage: Used as an uncountable noun to describe a behavior or process.

## Examples

- Stop blaming your sister for your own mistakes.
- The manager is blaming the recent drop in sales on the new marketing strategy instead of the product quality.
- Psychologists often observe that blaming others serves as a defense mechanism to protect one's ego from the discomfort of personal failure or poor decision-making.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.