26984 words

responsible

17 definitions • 19 examples
1
to have control and authority over something or someone and the duty of taking care of it, him, or her:

Examples:

Paul is directly responsible for the efficient running of the office.
Her department is responsible for overseeing the councils.
2
to be controlled by someone or something:

Examples:

In Australia, the prime minister and the Cabinet are responsible to the House of Representatives.
3
to be the person who caused something to happen, especially something bad:

Examples:

Who is responsible for this terrible mess?
Last month's bad weather was responsible for the crop failure.
4
to blame someone or something:

Examples:

He held me personally responsible whenever anything went wrong in the project.
5
to be in control of yourself so that you can fairly be blamed for your bad actions:

Examples:

The defendant was depressed and therefore not fully responsible for her own actions.
6
having good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own:

Examples:

a hard-working and responsible employee
Let's stay calm and try to behave like responsible adults.
Many big companies are now becoming more responsible about the way they operate.
7
A responsible job or position involves making important decisions or doing important things.
8
having the duty of taking care of something:

Examples:

The government’s Energy Regulatory Board is responsible for nuclear safety.
9
A responsible job/position is an important one involving control and authority over something.
10
being the cause of a particular action or situation, esp. a harmful or unpleasant one:

Examples:

We are not responsible for things getting lost in the mail.
11
having good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own:

Examples:

We want to be responsible citizens.
12
used to describe something, for example, a job, where you are able to act and make decisions on your own:

Examples:

It's a responsible job for which I've been well rewarded.
13
to have control and authority over someone or something and the duty to take care of them:

Examples:

He is responsible for the council's waste management department.
14
to make something happen, especially something bad:

Examples:

She was responsible for causing the accident.
15
to be controlled by someone or something:

Examples:

Only our elected representatives, responsible to us, can make these big decisions.
16
to blame someone or something for something bad that happened:

Examples:

He was held responsible for the accident.
17
to be able to be fairly blamed for bad things that you do or mistakes that you make:

Examples:

Although he was ill at the time, he was still responsible for his actions.

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