responsible
adjective
re·spon·si·ble
ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 
1
2
a
: able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
responsible financial policies
4
: politically answerable
especially
: required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature
—used especially of the British cabinet
responsibleness
noun
Examples of responsible in a Sentence
"If you all die of typhoid I won't be responsible!" he snapped. "If you die of dullness, neither will I," Helen echoed in her heart.
—
Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.
—Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery, 1900, 1901
He resumed our walk with me, passing his hand into my arm. "Then when AM I going back?" I wore, in turning it over, my most responsible air.
—Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, 1898
She is a very responsible worker.
Is he responsible enough to have a car?
Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.
—Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery, 1900, 1901
He resumed our walk with me, passing his hand into my arm. "Then when AM I going back?" I wore, in turning it over, my most responsible air.
—Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, 1898
She is a very responsible worker.
Is he responsible enough to have a car?
Recent Examples on the Web
Whoever was responsible for sponsorships and product integration this season definitely just stopped trying at some point.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Senior officials from Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Fiji pointed to a report that found Australia, Canada and Britain are responsible for 60% of emissions generated by fossil fuel extraction across the 56 members of the Commonwealth since 1990, despite representing only 6% of the Commonwealth’s population.
—Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
The managing owner is responsible for all routine operational expenses of the fund.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
The ransomware group known as Scattered Spider, which is responsible for highly disruptive extortion attacks against victims including MGM Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment, is among several criminal subgroups linked to the Com.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for responsible 
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Alice Burton, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
Senior officials from Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Fiji pointed to a report that found Australia, Canada and Britain are responsible for 60% of emissions generated by fossil fuel extraction across the 56 members of the Commonwealth since 1990, despite representing only 6% of the Commonwealth’s population.
—Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
The managing owner is responsible for all routine operational expenses of the fund.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
The ransomware group known as Scattered Spider, which is responsible for highly disruptive extortion attacks against victims including MGM Entertainment and Caesars Entertainment, is among several criminal subgroups linked to the Com.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for responsible
Dictionary Entries Near responsible
Cite this Entry
“Responsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsible. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
responsible
adjective
re·spon·si·ble
ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
1
a
: being the one who must answer or account for something
the committee responsible for the job
b
: being the cause or explanation
the germ responsible for the disease
2
a
: able to meet one's obligations : reliable
a responsible citizen
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: requiring a person to take charge of or be trusted with important matters
a responsible job
responsibleness
noun
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