guilty
adjective /ˈɡɪlti/
/ˈɡɪlti/
(comparative guiltier, superlative guiltiest)
more guilty and most guilty are more commonIdioms - feeling ashamed because you have done something that you know is wrong or have not done something that you should have done
- Matt and Chrissy both looked equally guilty.
- John had a guilty look on his face.
- I had a guilty conscience and could not sleep.
- guilty about doing something I feel very guilty about leaving her.
- guilty about something parents who feel guilty about the small amount of time they spend with their children
- guilty that… I feel almost guilty that so many good things are happening to us.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsb1- I felt guilty about not visiting my parents more often.
- She has a terribly guilty conscience about it.
- She was looking rather guilty when I came into the room.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- feel
- look
- extremely
- really
- very
- …
- about
- having done something illegal; being responsible for something bad that has happened
- He pleaded guilty to murder.
- guilty of something The jury found the defendant not guilty of the offence.
- She may be guilty of murder.
- He was not guilty of the crime he had been put in prison for.
- We've all been guilty of selfishness at some time in our lives.
- the guilty party (= the person responsible for something bad happening)
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justiceBreaking the law- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of indecent assault
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
- sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
- take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- pass sentence on somebody
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
- be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justiceb1- The jury voted not guilty on all counts.
- The accused is guilty on all counts.
- Everyone thought he was guilty but there was no proof.
- My lawyer urged me to plead guilty.
- She was guilty of several crimes, including assault.
- Under the UK judiciary system, everyone is innocent until proved guilty.
- Who was the guilty party in the affair?
- Anyone who supports terrorists is equally guilty of terrorist crimes.
- Company directors may be deemed guilty of a crime if their company causes pollution.
- He pleaded guilty to starting the fire.
- He was found guilty of murder.
- She was certainly guilty, but the police couldn't prove it.
- She was guilty of fraud.
- No one believed him guilty of this terrible crime.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- plead
- believe somebody
- …
- certainly
- clearly
- obviously
- …
- of
More Like This Silent lettersSilent letters- gnarled
- gnash
- gnat
- gnaw
- gnome
- haute cuisine
- heir
- herb
- honour
- hors d’oeuvre
- hour
- knack
- knee
- kneel
- knife
- knight
- knit
- knob
- knock
- knot
- know
- knuckle
- psalm
- psephology
- psychic
- ptarmigan
- pterodactyl
- psychology
- wrangle
- wrap
- wreath
- wreck
- wrench
- wrestle
- wriggle
- wring
- write
- wrong
- bomb
- climb
- crumb
- doubt
- lamb
- limb
- ascent
- fascinate
- muscle
- scene
- scissors
- height
- right
- sleigh
- weight
- align
- campaign
- design
- foreign
- malign
- reign
- unfeigned
- balmy
- calm
- calf
- half
- yolk
- autumn
- column
- condemn
- damn
- hymn
- solemn
- bristle
- fasten
- listen
- mortgage
- soften
- thistle
- wrestle
- biscuit
- build
- circuit
- disguise
- guilty
- league
- rogue
- vague
- yacht
- answer
- sword
- two
Word OriginOld English gyltig (see guilt, -y).
Idioms
a guilty pleasure
- something that you enjoy, even though you feel it is not really a good thing
- Daytime TV is one of my guilty pleasures.
a guilty secret
- a secret that somebody feels ashamed about