responsible Meaning & Definition
What Does Responsible Mean?
Responsible is used as an adjective meaning Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically. It can also mean Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it. As a noun, it means The person who bears the responsibility for something. As a noun, it means The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
Quick Facts About Responsible
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ɹɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | judicious, causative and liable |
| Antonyms | irresponsible |
| Plural | responsibles |
| Comparative / superlative | more responsible, most responsible |
Responsible Definition (Adjective)
- Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
- Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
Who is responsible for this mess?
- Answerable to (a superior).
- Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
She has a responsible position in the firm.
- Having good judgment in decision-making.
- Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
He looks like a responsible guy.
- Capable of rational conduct and thus morally accountable for one's behavior.
Responsible as a Noun
- The person who bears the responsibility for something.
- An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
Noun
- The individual who bears the responsibility for something.
Adjective
- (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.
Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
- (followed by "for") Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
Who is responsible for this mess?
- (followed by "to") Answerable to (a superior).
- (of a job or position) Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
She has a responsible position in the firm.
Synonyms of Responsible
Responsible synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Responsible
Responsible in a Sentence
Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
Who is responsible for this mess?
She has a responsible position in the firm.
He looks like a responsible guy.
Word Forms & Grammar
responsible (comparative more responsible, superlative most responsible)
responsible (plural responsibles)
Words That Rhyme With Responsible
Origin of Responsible
From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondeō, respondēre. The spelling of the English word is taken from the Old French variant responsible. By surface analysis, response + -ible.
Responsible Pronunciation
You say responsible as //ɹɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl//. It has 1 syllable.
Responsible: Your Questions Answered
Is responsible an adjective or a noun?
Responsible is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for responsible?
Close synonyms of responsible are judicious, causative and liable. See the full list of responsible synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of responsible?
The opposite of responsible is irresponsible.
What is the plural of responsible?
The plural of responsible is responsibles.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of responsible?
The comparative form is more responsible and the superlative form is most responsible.