Responsible Meaning
/ɹɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHaving the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
adjBeing a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
Sentence Examples
You are responsible for what you do.
You should be responsible for your actions.
Mike is responsible for designing the entire project.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ driver always strictly follows traffic rules and never drinks alcohol.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The manager held each team member ____ for meeting their individual targets by the end of the quarter.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondere. The spelling of the English word is taken from the Old French variant responsible. By surface analysis, response + -ible.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…]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."
— 2018 May 26, Daniel Taylor, “Liverpool go through after Mohamed Salah stops Manchester City fightback”, in The Guardian (London):
"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."
— 2012 March 26, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87:
"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."
— 1899, The Harlequin, volume 1, page 12:
"[…] first appeared on August Bank Holiday, 1901, at Grand Theatre, Llandudno, playing "responsibles" with Edward Compton; […]"
— 1907, The Green Room Book; Or, Who's Who on the Stage, page 9:
"'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night."
— 1926, Arthur Machen, Dreads and Drolls:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ driver always strictly follows traffic rules and never drinks alcohol.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The manager held each team member ____ for meeting their individual targets by the end of the quarter.