guilty

/ˈɡɪlti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡɪlti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgil-tē/ (ame, mw)

guilty — adjective

  • guiltypositive
  • guiltiercomparative
  • guiltiestsuperlative

1. unhappy and sorry about something bad you have done, like hurting another person

1.形容詞A2
釋義

unhappy and sorry about something bad you have done, like hurting another person or not keeping a promise

例句

Anjali felt guilty about forgetting her grandmother's birthday.

feel guilty about [something]

The dog gave a guilty look after chewing through the cushion.

guilty look — outward appearance of guilt

同義詞
  • remorseful

    focuses on deep regret more than emotional discomfort

  • ashamed

    emphasises embarrassment or loss of pride about an action

  • contrite

    more formal; stresses sincere sorrow and a wish to make things right

反義詞
  • proud

    feeling good about an action rather than sorry

  • unrepentant

    not sorry for what one has done

文法句型

feel guilty about [something]

feel guilty for [doing something]

look guilty

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'about' (feeling guilty about a situation) or 'for' (feeling guilty for an action). Can describe how a person looks ('a guilty look,' 'a guilty expression') as well as how they feel inside.

常見錯誤

❌I feel guilt about arriving late.
✅I feel guilty about arriving late.
💡'Guilt' is a noun; use the adjective 'guilty' after the verb 'feel.'
❌She was guilty to lie to her parents.
✅She was guilty of lying to her parents.
💡'Guilty' takes the preposition 'of' and a noun or gerund, not 'to' plus a verb.

2. officially found to have broken a rule or law, so you deserve punishment or blam

2.形容詞B1
釋義

officially found to have broken a rule or law, so you deserve punishment or blame

例句

After six hours of discussion, the jury found the defendant guilty of robbery.

be found guilty of [crime] — court decision

Piotr pleaded guilty to the charge of tax evasion last week.

plead guilty to [charge] — formal admission in court

同義詞
  • culpable

    more formal; emphasises blameworthiness rather than legal status

  • responsible

    broader term; can apply to any duty or action, not just wrongdoing

  • at fault

    focuses on being the cause of a problem or accident

反義詞

文法句型

guilty of [crime/wrongdoing]

be found guilty of [crime]

plead guilty to [charge]

用法筆記

Common in legal contexts: a court 'finds someone guilty' (the decision) or a defendant 'pleads guilty' (admits the charge before trial). The opposite in English law is 'not guilty,' though 'innocent' is also used in general discussion.

常見錯誤

❌He was guilty to steal the money.
✅He was guilty of stealing the money.
💡After 'guilty of,' use a noun or gerund, not an infinitive verb.
❌The judge found him guilty for murder.
✅The judge found him guilty of murder.
💡The correct preposition is 'of,' not 'for,' when stating the crime.

3. describing the person or side that is responsible for a crime, mistake, or probl

3.形容詞B2
釋義

describing the person or side that is responsible for a crime, mistake, or problem

例句

The guilty party must pay for all the damage caused by the fire.

collocation: the guilty party

Police are still searching for the guilty person after the bank robbery.

the guilty person

同義詞
  • culprit

    a noun; refers directly to the person who did something wrong

  • offender

    a noun; often used in legal or official contexts

  • wrongdoer

    a noun; more general, less formal than 'offender'

反義詞

文法句型

the guilty [person/party/defendant/driver]

用法筆記

Nearly always used before a noun ('the guilty person,' 'the guilty party'). Using 'the guilty' alone as a noun ('the police caught the guilty') is restricted to very formal or journalistic writing and is uncommon in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌The judge sentenced the guilty to five years.
✅The judge sentenced the guilty man to five years.
💡'Guilty' is an adjective; it needs a noun after it in standard English. The standalone 'the guilty' is only found in formal or legal shorthand.