guilt - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
guilt Word Meanings
- a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing
- a sense of remorse or regret
- the state of having committed a crime or offense
guilt Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
guilt Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɡɪlt/
US
/ɡɪlt/
guilt Word Etymology
The word 'guilt' comes from Old English 'gylt', meaning 'a crime or sin'. It is linked to feelings of responsibility and remorse, symbolizing a weight on one's conscience that grows into a heavy burden when one realizes their wrongdoing, like carrying a stone on their heart.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I shift in my chair, letting my weight settle as I set my gaze down and take a slow breath. A memory nudges me, something I did, a reason I can't quite shake, and I try to push it away, then pull it back to the center of my attention. The air feels thicker, and the moment feels heavier, like my chest has to hold onto it. In that tension I learn how guilt grows, guiding my next choices and how I speak or stay silent when people ask what happened.
Real Context
Guilt is a complex emotion that arises when we believe we have harmed someone or broken our own moral standards. It can prompt apologies and repair, or it can become a heavy burden if we dwell on it without action. In everyday English we say 'I feel guilty' to describe the emotion, and phrases like 'guilt trip' describe someone trying to induce such feelings in another person. Guilt is not exactly the same as shame or legal guilt: you can feel guilty without a court declaring you guilty, and you can be legally guilty without feeling remorse. The word comes from Old English gylt, linking responsibility and wrongdoing to a weight on the conscience.
Usage Reminders
- - Use 'feel guilty' for a personal emotion, not a legal verdict.
- - Distinguish guilt (emotion) from shame (self-judgment).
- - Common collocations: guilt trip, guilty conscience, feel a pang of guilt.
- - Not every wrongdoing provokes guilt; context, culture, and beliefs matter.
- - Practice with apologies and repair phrases to express accountability.
Common Misconceptions
- Guilt is the same as shame or blame.
- You must always feel guilty after a wrong action.
- Guilt always comes from a major wrongdoing.
- Legal guilt and moral guilt always align.
- Feeling guilty means you are a bad person.
Thinking Differences
In English, guilt is often framed as a personal moral sentiment that can coexist with legal innocence; learners may mix up 'guilt' with 'shame' or misinterpret phrases like 'guilt trip'.
Learning Tips
- Learn common collocations: feel guilty, guilty conscience, guilty party.
- Practice distinguishing guilt from shame and blame.
- Use apology phrases to express accountability.
- Read and listen to real-life stories of remorse to hear natural usage.
- Record yourself describing a mistake to reinforce vocabulary.
- Note the difference between legal guilt and moral guilt in context.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'guilt'?
A.Fear
B.Joy
C.Shame
D.Anger
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is the word 'guilt' used correctly?
A.He felt guilty for helping his friend.
B.She felt happy for lying to her parents.
C.They felt annoyed for admitting their mistake.
D.I felt sad for achieving my goal.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'guilt'?
A.Innocence
B.Pleasure
C.Regret
D.Indifference
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'guilt'?
A.Absolution
B.Remorse
C.Shame
D.Condemnation
Step 5: Mastery
How can you apply the word 'guilt' in a real-life situation?
A.Feeling content after achieving a goal.
B.Feeling excited about helping someone in need.
C.Feeling guilty for lying to a friend.
D.Feeling confident about making a mistake.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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