Skip to main content
to charge

to charge

150 3.6
Move forward quickly, often to attack
  • verb
  • /tʃɑrdʒ/
: cargar (contra)
  • As the enemy forces drew closer, the soldiers prepared to charge into battle with fierce determination.
  • the cavalry charged

And he turned around to Inspector Kate and he went charging and Kate went charging.

Examples

  • The Roherim sing with joy as they charge into battle.

  • All of a sudden, a male waterbuck came charging out of the trees in a panic-driven flight.

    Academic text (1999)
  • You see how he charges towards me to attack me again?

  • If he charges, you take off.

  • But when he got up and charged again, I did the same thing.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • More troops are going to be available to charge in now right here.

  • A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space.

  • Undeterred, wave after wave of soldiers charged the beast and died.

  • Stephen picks up the door and, using it as a shield, charges into the flames.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Summoning hidden resources of strength, Peter charges at the oncoming soldiers, brandishing his sword.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

to rush
vsto charge
637 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

often implies forward movement and possible attack rather than general urgency
to tear
vsto charge
33 3.4

To move very quickly with great force

often adds an attacking intention rather than just speed or energy
to bear down
vsto charge
19 5.8

Move quickly and forcefully toward someone or something to attack

is broader referring to any fast forward force not only confrontation
to charge down the field
vsto charge
  • Informal
1 4.1

To move quickly and forcefully forward across a playing field in sports to try to score

is the general fast forward action used beyond sports field situations
to thrust ahead
vsto charge
1 5.7

To push forward through a crowd to get ahead

is more about a fast attack forward not only pushing past people

Antonyms

93 2.3

A stop in movement or activity

80 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

Idioms

You do not have to pay for it

1 7.8

Has control and confidence when leading others

Phrasal Verbs

101 3.5

Start to control a group or situation and lead others

12 3.5

To connect a battery or device to electricity so it has power

to charge up
  • Informal
7 4.8

To make people feel excited and ready to act

4 7.0

To enjoy something and feel excited by it

Plug a phone into a charger to make the battery work again

To accept responsibility for and control someone or something

1 4.1

To move quickly and forcefully forward across a playing field in sports to try to score

Compounds

75 4.7

A formal claim in court that someone killed another person

14 3.2

A card that lets you buy things and must be paid in full each month

electric charge
  • Specialized
14 3.9

A quality in objects that makes them pull together or push apart, called positive and negative

8 3.9

An extra fee each person pays to enter a restaurant or club, not for food and drink

explosive charge
  • Specialized
7 4.2

An amount of material placed to blow up at one time

An extra amount added to a bill to pay for the staff who served you

depth charge
  • Specialized
6 8.1

A bomb that explodes underwater at a set depth to destroy submarines

An account at a store that lets you buy now and pay later

positive charge
  • Specialized
4 3.9

An electrical state when an object has fewer electrons than protons

negative charge
  • Specialized
4 4.1

A state when an object has more electrons than protons and so attracts positive objects, for example a rubbed balloon

3 5.4

A written list of charges and arrests at a police station

electrostatic charge
  • Specialized
2 6.2

A buildup of electricity on the surface of an object that does not let it move

2 9.0

A diplomat who acts as head of an embassy when the ambassador is away

A fee you pay to enter a place or event

dynamite charge
  • Specialized
1 6.1

An amount of dynamite set to explode and break rock or buildings

charge plate
  • Archaic
1 8.4

A small metal or plastic plate that people use like an early credit card to pay for goods

ionic charge
  • Specialized
1 5.7

The electric charge an atom has after it gains or loses electrons

A small fee for packing and sending an order

A fee paid for a plane landing, take-off, parking, or use of passenger areas at an airport

Money paid for putting equipment or services in place and making them ready

fixed charge
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A regular payment that does not change when business changes, like rent or insurance

carrying charge
  • Specialized
1 6.8

The cost of keeping goods or assets in storage over time

carrying charge
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A fee charged for keeping an unpaid balance on an account

charge unit
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A standard amount used to measure electric charge, like the coulomb

A fee you pay for returning a rented car to a different place

1 5.1

The total electric charge in a closed system stays the same

1 8.9

An explosive inside a bomb or shell that breaks it open

A mass attack, especially by Japanese soldiers in World War II, where they rush the enemy while shouting 'banzai'

depreciation charge
  • Specialized
1 6.7

An amount companies record each year as an expense to show equipment loses value

1 7.5

A payment plan that lets you keep owing money and pay over time

1 9.2

A soldier who stays on duty after hours to deal with problems and visitors

1 3.5

An amount of money residents pay regularly to cover shared building costs like cleaning and repairs

A way to buy now at a shop and pay later up to a set limit you can repay anytime

The cost for each item or unit used

9.9

A machine that speeds up ions so they leave a hot gas called plasma after swapping electrons

8.7

A device that throws explosive charges into the sea to attack submarines from a ship

7.0

A tax on products harmful to the environment to make people use them less

How Forceful

to storm
78 4.4
to charge
150 3.6
to rush
637 1.0
to advance
382 3.4

Surface Forms

charge infinitive
charged past
charged past participle
charging present participle
charges third person singular

Etymology

Charge once meant 'to load' and then grew into the idea of moving forward with force, as if pushing a heavy weight. So to charge at someone is to rush forward quickly and attack.