American English

How to pronounce allege

verbB2Common word
uhLEHJ

/əˈlɛʤ/

2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.

To say that something is true, especially that someone has done something wrong or illegal, when this has not been proved.

Practice out loud

Meanings & examples

verbformalless common

To say that something is true, especially that someone has done something wrong or illegal, when this has not been proved.

The witness alleged that the driver had been drinking.

The report alleges serious safety problems at the factory.

Good to know

Allege is formal and is common in news reports and legal writing.

Common phrases & grammar

allege wrongdoing · allege fraud · allege corruption · allege misconduct

allege that + subject + verb

be alleged to + verb

Useful expressions

it is alleged that

used to say that something is claimed but has not been proved

It is alleged that the company hid the records.

be alleged to

to be said to have done something, although this has not been proved

The manager is alleged to have taken the money.

Related words & forms

alleginggerundallegedpast · past participleallegesthird person singular

The past and past participle are alleged. The -ing form is alleging, with the final e removed.

allegationnoun: an unproved claim, especially about wrongdoingallegedadjective: said to be true or to have happened, but not provedallegedlyadverb: according to an unproved claim