answer for (something)

idiom

1
: to take responsibility for (something)
I can't answer for their safety.
The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees.
2
: to be punished for (something)
He must answer for his crimes.
3
US : to be used or serve as (something)
The old bucket answered for a sink.

Examples of answer for (something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lauren doesn’t really have an answer for either question. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 28 Feb. 2025 The Nuggets, of course, had won nine in a row prior to their battle with L.A., but never had an answer for Doncic, James and L.A.'s uniquely hard-to-stop offense. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 Animation: Vulture Players to Achieve a Perfect Grid Just over 100 of you earned a score of 2,700, which requires finding the rarest answer for all nine squares. Josiah Whitfield, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025 Read on for our top tips on how to pay off credit card debt and save money, as well as the best debt relief programs and how to decide when credit card debt relief is the answer for you. Stephanie Colestock, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for answer for (something)

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Answer for (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20for%20%28something%29. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!