- 1more guilty and most guilty are more common guilty (about something) feeling ashamed because you have done something that you know is wrong or have not done something that you should have done I felt guilty about not visiting my parents more often. John had a guilty look on his face. I had a guilty conscience and could not sleep.
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- 2guilty (of something) having done something illegal; being responsible for something bad that has happened The jury found the defendant not guilty of the offense. He pleaded guilty to murder. the guilty party (= the person responsible for something bad happening) We've all been guilty of selfishness at some time in our lives. opposite innocent Topic CollocationsCriminal Justicebreaking the law
- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/indicted/convicted on felony charges/on charges of rape/fraud
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of assault and battery
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- be granted/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/advise a jury
- stand/appear/be brought before a judge
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/take/put somebody on the stand/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 guilty/not guilty
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- sentence somebody to 5 years in prison/2 years' probation
- 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 13 years on death row
- be granted/be denied/violate (your) parole
- ⇨ more collocations at crime
Idioms
used to emphasize that someone is very guilty, etc.
a secret that someone feels ashamed about
NAmE//ˈɡɪltəli//
adverbSee guilty in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: guilty