responsible
gb/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/ us/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
B1
English
~ 1100
felelős, felelősségteljes, felelősségtudat
B1
1
felelős
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is responsible for [something/doing something]
She is responsible for organizing the event.
Ő felelős a rendezvény megszervezéséért.
Parents are responsible for their children's safety.
A szülők felelősek a gyermekeik biztonságáért.
The manager is responsible for overseeing the project.
You will be responsible for locking up the office.
He was responsible for leading the team to victory.
Learner examples
I am responsible for my dog.
Én vagyok felelős a kutyámért.
She is responsible for cleaning the room.
Ő felelős a szoba kitakarításáért.
He is responsible for making dinner.
We are responsible for our homework.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'responsible for' with 'responsible to'. Use 'responsible for' when talking about duties or tasks, and 'responsible to' when talking about being answerable to a person or authority.
Meaning
having a duty to do something
Collocations
responsible for managing
|responsible for ensuring
|responsible for safety
|responsible adult
|held responsible
Synonyms
accountable (Often used in formal contexts to stress being answerable for actions or results.)
Antonyms
irresponsible (Describes someone who fails to meet duties or obligations.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Having to take care of something or make sure something happens.
Having a duty to deal with something or having control over someone or something.
B1
2
felelős
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is responsible for [something happening]
Who is responsible for this mess?
Ki felelős ezért a rendetlenségért?
The company is responsible for the pollution in the river.
A vállalat felelős a folyó szennyezéséért.
He was responsible for breaking the vase.
They are responsible for starting the fire.
Learner examples
She is responsible for the broken glass.
Ő felelős a törött pohárért.
He is responsible for the noise.
Ő felelős a zajért.
They are responsible for the problem.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this causal meaning with having a duty. Context usually makes it clear: if it’s about causing something, not about duties, it’s this meaning.
Meaning
being the cause of something
Collocations
responsible for damage
|responsible for the accident
|responsible for injuries
Synonyms
to blame (Informal and often used in contexts of fault or guilt.)
Antonyms
blameless (Indicates no fault or causal link to an outcome.)
Themes
law
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Causing something to happen, especially something bad.
Being the person or thing that caused something to happen, especially something bad.
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] is responsible in [behavior/action]
She’s a very responsible driver.
Nagyon felelősségteljes vezető.
That was a responsible choice under the circumstances.
Az adott körülmények között ez felelősségteljes választás volt.
We need someone responsible to look after the kids.
Learner examples
He is a responsible student.
Felelősségteljes diák.
She made a responsible choice.
Felelősségteljes döntést hozott.
They are very responsible friends.
Meaning
showing good judgment
Collocations
a responsible decision
|a responsible choice
|a responsible citizen
Synonyms
reliable (Focuses more on dependability rather than moral judgment.)
Antonyms
reckless (Suggests acting without thinking about risks or consequences.)
Themes
daily life
|character
|core_vocabulary
|work
Definition
Behaving in a careful and sensible way; doing what is right.
Able to be trusted to behave sensibly and make good decisions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
responsible
IPA
GB/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
US/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
Syllables & stress
re - spons - ible (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (spons)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: responsible
- Comparative: responsibler
- Superlative: responsiblest
Word family
Forms
responsibler
adjective
responsiblest
adjective
Core family
responsibility
noun B1
responsibly
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
respondent
noun B2
responsiveness
noun
Expressions
be responsible to someone
3/bˈi ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
answerable to someone in authority
To have to explain your actions to someone who has authority over you.
Examples
- As a department head, you are responsible to the company president.
- Teachers are responsible to the school board.
hold someone responsible
2/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
fixed phrase
consider someone at fault or accountable
To say that someone must answer for something bad or wrong that happened.
Examples
- The police held him responsible for the accident.
- Parents can be held responsible for their children's actions.
take responsibility
1/tˈeɪk ɹispˌɑnsɪbˈɪləti/
fixed phrase
accept duty or blame
To agree that you are the one who must do something or who caused something bad.
Examples
- She took responsibility for completing the report on time.
- He needs to take responsibility for his mistakes.