# act responsibly

CEFR B2 · Fixed phrase

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/act-responsibly
Updated: 2026-07-26

## Definition

to behave in a sensible way that shows you care about the results of your actions.

For teachers: to conduct oneself in a manner that demonstrates accountability and sound judgment. This collocation is frequently used in corporate, environmental, or social contexts to describe ethical behavior.

## Examples

- We expect all our employees to act responsibly.
- If you want to borrow the car, you must promise to act responsibly and follow the speed limit.
- The committee urged the corporation to act responsibly by disclosing its carbon emissions and investing in renewable energy sources.

## Usage notes

- often used in the imperative or as an expectation set by an authority figure.
- Teaching tip: this is a high-frequency collocation; use it to teach the adverbial modification of verbs in professional or civic contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.