Word
responsible
Phoneticsre·spon·si·ble, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈspɑnsəbəɫ/
UK/ɹɪspˈɒnsəbəl/
Definitions
01having a duty
B1 · Intermediate
adj. having the job or duty of taking care of someone or something.
adj. having the obligation to ensure a task is completed or a person is cared for; often used with the preposition 'for'.
“The manager is responsible for making sure the shop opens on time every morning.”
“As the lead architect, she was ultimately responsible for ensuring that the structural modifications complied with the city's stringent safety codes.”
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'for' and a noun or gerund.
Pitfall
Who is responsible of this mess?
Who is responsible for this mess?
Use the preposition 'for' after responsible, not 'of'.
Synonyms
02being the cause
B1 · Intermediate
adj. being the person or thing that caused something to happen.
adj. being the primary cause or agent of a particular action or situation, whether for credit or blame.
“The heavy rain was responsible for the flooding in the basement.”
“While several factors contributed to the project's failure, a lack of clear communication was primarily responsible for the missed deadlines.”
Synonyms
03sensible and reliable
B1 · Intermediate
adj. behaving in a sensible way and able to be trusted.
adj. demonstrating good judgment and reliability; capable of rational and moral conduct.
Español:responsable
“We need a responsible person to look after the house while we are away.”
“The committee is looking for a responsible candidate who can manage the budget without constant supervision.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04minor actor
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Theater Technical
n. an actor who plays small or less important parts in a theatre company.
n. a performer who takes on secondary or minor roles within a repertory theatre system.
“He started his career as a responsible, playing three different small parts in the same play.”
“The young actor spent two seasons as a responsible in the regional company before being cast in a leading role.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun within the context of professional theatre companies.
Teaching tip
This is a very niche technical term in theatre; learners will almost always encounter 'responsible' as an adjective.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “responsible” in context.
Verb
01. hold responsible
“Parents should not be held responsible for their adult children's actions.”
verb + adj
02. make responsible
“The new promotion will make him responsible for the entire sales team.”
verb + adj
03. responsible for
“Who is responsible for organizing the annual office party?”
adj + prep
Adjective
04. highly responsible
“She is a highly responsible student who never misses a deadline.”
adv + adj
05. personally responsible
“The CEO felt personally responsible for the company's failure.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. responsible adult
“We need a responsible adult to supervise the children at the pool.”
adj + noun
07. responsible position
“He holds a very responsible position in the local government.”
adj + noun
08. responsible for the content
09. act in a responsible manner
“We expect all our employees to act in a responsible manner at all times.”
10. be held legally responsible
“The company could be held legally responsible for the environmental damage.”
11. responsible for the fact that
“A lack of funding is responsible for the fact that the project failed.”
12. responsible landlord
Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/responsible
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0