# charged

/ˈtʃɑɹdʒd/ (US) · /tʃˈɑːdʒd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/charged
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. asked for payment

verb · CEFR A2

asked someone to pay a specific amount of money for something.

For teachers: demanded a specific price or fee as payment for goods or services rendered.

- The hotel charged us extra for using the mini-bar in our room.
- The consultancy charged a premium for their services, justifying the cost by pointing to their high success rate in previous quarters.

Usage: Often used with 'for' to indicate the item or service being paid for.

### 2. filled with electricity

verb · CEFR A2

filled a battery or device with electrical power.

For teachers: stored electrical energy in a battery or capacitor.

- I charged my phone overnight so it would be ready for the trip.
- The electric vehicle was fully charged within four hours using the high-speed station installed in the parking garage.

### 3. accused of a crime

verb · CEFR B1 · Formal

officially said that someone committed a crime.

For teachers: formally accused someone of an offence, especially in a legal context.

- The police charged the man with theft after finding the stolen goods.
- The prosecutor charged the defendant with multiple counts of fraud following a year-long investigation into the company's finances.

Usage: Typically takes the preposition 'with' followed by the specific crime.

### 4. rushed forward

verb · CEFR B2

ran forward quickly and forcefully, often to attack.

For teachers: moved forward rapidly and forcefully, typically in a military or aggressive context.

- The soldiers charged across the field toward the enemy lines.
- The bull charged at the fence, forcing the spectators to scatter in search of safety.

### 5. full of emotion

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

full of strong feelings like anger, excitement, or tension.

For teachers: imbued with strong emotion, tension, or significant social or political meaning.

- The atmosphere in the room was charged with tension as they waited for the results.
- The debate became highly charged when the topic shifted to the controversial new tax policy.

Usage: Frequently followed by 'with' and a noun like 'emotion', 'tension', or 'meaning'.

### 6. having an electrical charge

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a positive or negative electrical force.

For teachers: possessing a non-zero net electric charge, either positive or negative.

- The balloon became charged with static electricity after being rubbed on a sweater.
- The experiment required the researchers to observe how charged particles behaved when passing through a magnetic field.

## Examples

- The hotel charged us fifty dollars for breakfast.
- The mechanic charged a fair price for the repairs, so I will definitely return to his shop next time.
- The cavalry charged across the open field toward the enemy lines, while the local merchants charged exorbitant prices for the supplies the soldiers desperately needed to survive the winter.

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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.
