WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
charge /tʃɑrdʒ/USA pronunciation   v., charged, charg•ing, n. 
v. 
  1. to ask (money) for payment: [no object]Does the hotel charge for television?[~ + object (+ for + object)]The hotel charges ten dollars extra a night for television.
  2. to ask a price or fee of (someone): [~ + object (+ for)]Did the hotel charge you for the cable television?[ ~ + obj + obj]:They charged us money for using the cable TV.
  3. [~ + object] to make a record of (a purchase) so that it can be paid for at some future time: He charged the coat on his credit card.
    • [~ + object] to attack;
      rush forward against:The cavalry charged the enemy.
    • [no object] to rush suddenly or violently:They charged up the hill after her.
  5. [~ + object + with + object] to accuse formally or in law: They charged her with theft.
  6. to command or give an order or instruction to: [~ + object + with + object]The vice-president charged his assistant with management of the budget.[~ + object + to + verb]The judge charged the jury to ignore the testimony.
  7. [~ + object] to fill or refill so as to make ready for use: to charge a musket.
  8. Electricity[~ + object] to put electrical energy into: They charged the dead battery and started the car.
  9. to fill, as with emotion;
    create a feeling in:[~ + object;usually: be + ~-ed + with + object]The air was charged with excitement.

n. 
  1. [countable] a fee or price asked or imposed: a charge of six dollars for admission.
  2. expense or cost:[uncountable]We'll repair the damage at no charge.
  3. an attack, as of soldiers;
    onrush:[countable]the Charge of the Light Brigade.
  4. someone or something given to one's care:[countable]The young thieves were Fagin's charges.
  5. a command or instruction:[countable]The judge issued a charge to the jury not to talk about the case.
  6. [countable] an accusation: The state dropped the main charge of theft.
  7. [countable] a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.
  8. Electricity[countable]
  9. Slang Terms[Informal.]a thrill that causes pleasure or laughter;
    kick:[countable* usually singular]I got quite a charge out of watching her.
Idioms
  1. Idioms in charge, in command;
    having the care or responsibility: Who's in charge here?
  2. Idioms take charge, [~ + of + object] to assume control or responsibility:expected her to take charge of the situation.


char•gé /ʃɑrˈʒeɪ, ˈʃɑrʒeɪ/USA pronunciation   n. [countable], pl. -gés 
    /-ˈʒeɪz; -ʒeɪz/.USA pronunciation  
  1. Governmenta chargé d'affaires.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
take-charge  (tāk′chärj′),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. able or seemingly able to take charge:She is a take-charge management type.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
charge  (chärj),USA pronunciation v., charged, charg•ing, n. 
v.t. 
  1. to impose or ask as a price or fee:That store charges $25 for leather gloves.
  2. to impose on or ask of (someone) a price or fee:He didn't charge me for it.
  3. to defer payment for (a purchase) until a bill is rendered by the creditor:The store let me charge the coat.
  4. Businessto hold liable for payment;
    enter a debit against.
  5. to attack by rushing violently against:The cavalry charged the enemy.
  6. to accuse formally or explicitly (usually fol. by with):They charged him with theft.
  7. to impute;
    ascribe the responsibility for:He charged the accident to his own carelessness.
  8. Lawto instruct authoritatively, as a judge does a jury.
  9. to lay a command or injunction upon:He charged his secretary with the management of his correspondence.
  10. to fill or furnish (a thing) with the quantity, as of powder or fuel, that it is fitted to receive:to charge a musket.
  11. Electricityto supply with a quantity of electric charge or electrical energy:to charge a storage battery.
  12. Electricityto change the net amount of positive or negative electric charge of (a particle, body, or system).
  13. to suffuse, as with emotion:The air was charged with excitement.
  14. to fill (air, water, etc.) with other matter in a state of diffusion or solution:The air was charged with pollen.
  15. Metallurgyto load (materials) into a furnace, converter, etc.
  16. to load or burden (the mind, heart, etc.):His mind was charged with weighty matters.
  17. to put a load or burden on or in.
  18. Library Scienceto record the loan of, as books or other materials from a library (often fol. by out):The librarian will charge those books at the front desk.
  19. Library Scienceto borrow, as books or other materials from a library (often fol. by out):How many magazines may I charge at one time?
  20. Heraldryto place charges on (an escutcheon).

v.i. 
  1. to make an onset;
    rush, as to an attack.
  2. to place the price of a thing to one's debit.
  3. to require payment:to charge for a service.
  4. Businessto make a debit, as in an account.
  5. (of dogs) to lie down at command.
  6. charge off:
    • Businessto write off as an expense or loss.
    • to attribute to:I charged off the blunder to inexperience.
  7. charge up, [Informal.]
    • to agitate, stimulate, or excite:a fiery speaker who can charge up an audience.
    • to put or be under the influence of narcotic drugs.

n. 
  1. expense or cost:improvements made at a tenant's own charge.
  2. a fee or price charged:a charge of three dollars for admission.
  3. Businessa pecuniary burden, encumbrance, tax, or lien;
    cost;
    expense;
    liability to pay:After his death there were many charges on his estate.
  4. Businessan entry in an account of something due.
  5. an impetuous onset or attack, as of soldiers.
  6. Militarya signal by bugle, drum, etc., for a military charge.
  7. a duty or responsibility laid upon or entrusted to one.
  8. care, custody, or superintendence:The child was placed in her nurse's charge.
  9. anything or anybody committed to one's care or management:The nurse was careful to let no harm come to her charge.
  10. Religion[Eccles.]a parish or congregation committed to the spiritual care of a pastor.
  11. a command or injunction;
    exhortation.
  12. an accusation:He was arrested on a charge of theft.
  13. Lawan address by a judge to a jury at the close of a trial, instructing it as to the legal points, the weight of evidence, etc., affecting the verdict in the case.
  14. Metallurgythe quantity of anything that an apparatus is fitted to hold, or holds, at one time:a charge of coal for a furnace.
  15. a quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.
  16. Electricity
    • See electric charge. 
    • the process of charging a storage battery.
  17. Slang Termsa thrill;
    kick.
  18. Rocketrygrains of a solid propellant, usually including an inhibitor.
  19. a load or burden.
  20. Heraldryany distinctive mark upon an escutcheon, as an ordinary or device, not considered as belonging to the field;
    bearing.
  21. Idioms in charge:
    • in command;
      having supervisory power.
    • British Termsunder arrest;
      in or into the custody of the police.
  22. Idioms in charge of:
    • having the care or supervision of:She is in charge of two libraries.
    • IdiomsAlso, in the charge of. under the care or supervision of:The books are in the charge of the accounting office.
  • Anglo-French, Old French, noun, nominal derivative of the verb, verbal
  • Late Latin carricāre to load a wagon, equivalent. to carr(us) wagon (see car1) + -icā- verb, verbal suffix. + -re infinitive ending; (noun, nominal) Middle English
  • Anglo-French, Old French charg(i)er
  • 1175–1225; 1950–55 for def. 41; (verb, verbal) Middle English chargen
charge′less, adj. 
    5. assault. 6. indict, arraign, impeach. 9. enjoin, exhort, urge, bid, require, order. 29. See price. 32. onslaught, assault. 34. commission, trust. 35. management. 39. indictment, imputation, allegation. 46. cargo, freight.
    6. acquit, absolve.
char•gé  (shär zhā′, shär′zhā; Fr. shar zhā′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -gés 
    (-zhāz′; -zhāz;
    Fr. -zhā′).USA pronunciation     
  1. a chargé d'affaires.
  • by shortening

'take charge' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
keep - officer of the day - show - administrator - attend - baby-sit - baggagemaster - governess - lifeboatman - manage - myself - take-charge

Forum discussions with the word(s) "take charge" in the title:


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