press charges
idiom
: to take legal action against someone : to officially accuse someone of a crime
He was caught shoplifting, but the store owner didn't press charges.
Examples of press charges in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hur decided not to press charges against Biden and Republicans want to know more about how that decision was made.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 May 2024
When prosecutors declined to press charges against Yamaguchi, Ito pursued a civil case against him, winning damages in 2019.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 9 May 2024
The case was closed because the woman did not want to press charges, the affidavit states.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
The commission decided not to press charges against those who removed the bears from the tree.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
The driver declined to press charges against her, though she was fired shortly after.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Police reported to the scene but did not make any arrests after Circle in the Square Theatre management opted not to press charges.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
At Issaquah High School, police opted not to press charges.
—Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2024
Though Hammer didn’t press charges after Leonsis called to apologize, the National Hockey League fined the owner $100,000 and suspended him for a week.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 May 2024
When prosecutors declined to press charges against Yamaguchi, Ito pursued a civil case against him, winning damages in 2019.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 9 May 2024
The case was closed because the woman did not want to press charges, the affidavit states.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
The commission decided not to press charges against those who removed the bears from the tree.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
The driver declined to press charges against her, though she was fired shortly after.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Police reported to the scene but did not make any arrests after Circle in the Square Theatre management opted not to press charges.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
At Issaquah High School, police opted not to press charges.
—Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 8 Mar. 2024
Though Hammer didn’t press charges after Leonsis called to apologize, the National Hockey League fined the owner $100,000 and suspended him for a week.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'press charges.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near press charges
Cite this Entry
“Press charges.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/press%20charges. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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