Responsible

/ɹɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl/ · adjective

Meaning

(postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically..

Definitions by Sense

1. (postpositive, followed by "for") Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
2. (postpositive, followed by "for") Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
3. (followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).
4. (of a job or position) Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
5. Having good judgment in decision-making.
6. Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
7. Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.
8. (archaic) The individual who bears the responsibility for something.

Example Sentences

Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.

Who is responsible for this mess?

[…]Karius was a danger to his own team, responsible for Madrid’s two other goals and last seen wandering aimlessly around the pitch – alone, distraught and clearly traumatised – to ask forgiveness, hands clasped, from the thousands of Liverpool supporters.

She has a responsible position in the firm.

But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

He looks like a responsible guy.

Were this not so, long since would we have traced directly home the responsibility for the war on Freedom in the Philippines. Long since, would we have hanged the responsibles as traitors to our country.

[…] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […]

Synonyms for responsible

Antonyms for responsible

Related Words

Word Forms

• more responsible
• most responsible
• responsibles

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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