# framed

/ˈfɹeɪmd/ (US) · /fɹˈeɪmd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to put in a border

verb · CEFR B1

to put a picture or photo inside a border or frame.

For teachers: to enclose a photograph, painting, or document within a decorative or protective border.

- She framed the graduation photo and hung it on the living room wall.
- The gallery owner framed the original sketches in simple black wood to ensure the focus remained entirely on the artist's delicate line work.

### 2. to falsely accuse

verb · CEFR B2

to make an innocent person look guilty of a crime by using fake evidence.

For teachers: to contrive evidence so as to make an innocent person appear guilty of a crime.

- The detective realized the suspect had been framed when he found the hidden camera.
- The protagonist spends the second act of the film desperately trying to prove he was framed by a corrupt official who planted the weapon in his car.

### 3. to express an idea

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to choose specific words to explain an idea or a question.

For teachers: to formulate or articulate a concept, argument, or question in a particular way.

- The teacher framed the question in a way that helped the students understand.
- The researchers framed their hypothesis within the context of existing social theories to ensure their findings would be relevant to the broader academic community.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when discussing how an issue is presented to the public.

### 4. having a border

adjective · CEFR B1

describes something, like a picture, that is already inside a frame.

For teachers: enclosed or mounted within a frame; used as a participial adjective.

- The framed map on the wall showed the city as it looked a hundred years ago.
- A collection of framed certificates occupied the space behind the clerk's desk, intended to impress visitors with the firm's various credentials.

## Examples

- He claims the police framed him for the robbery.
- The detective realized the suspect was being framed when he found the fingerprints were placed there after the crime.
- In many classic noir films, the protagonist must go into hiding to prove his innocence after being framed for a murder he witnessed but did not commit.

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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.