liable
gb/lˈaɪəbəl/ us/lˈaɪəbəl/
B2
Inglés
~ 5400
felelős, felelősséggel tartozik, hajlamos, fogékony, köteles, adóköteles, büntethető
C1
FORMAL
1
Patrón de uso:
liable for [something]
The court found the company liable for the customer's injuries.
A bíróság megállapította, hogy a cég felelős az ügyfél sérüléseiért.
Under the contract, the supplier is liable for any defects in the products.
A szerződés értelmében a beszállító felelős a termékek bármilyen hibájáért.
Parents can be held liable for damage caused by their minor children.
If you sign this agreement, you will be liable for all repair costs.
The landlord was not liable for items left in the hallway.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The driver was liable for the car accident.
A sofőr volt felelős az autóbalesetért.
The hotel is liable for things that are stolen from the safe.
A szálloda felelős a széfből ellopott dolgokért.
In this country, employers are liable for workplace accidents.
If you break it, you are liable for the cost.
The company is liable for any harm caused by its products.
Error frecuente:
Learners often confuse "liable" with "reliable." "Liable" means legally responsible, while "reliable" means that you can trust someone or something. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition: in legal contexts, use "liable for [something]" (e.g. "liable for damages"), not "liable to damages."
Significado
Legally responsible for something
Colocaciones
held liable
|liable for damages
|liable for negligence
|personally liable
|strictly liable
|jointly liable
Sinónimos
legally responsible (More explicit and slightly longer; clearly states the legal aspect.)
|
answerable (Can be legal or moral; not always about money or court cases.)
Antónimos
exempt (Emphasizes being officially free from a legal duty or payment that others must meet.)
Temas
law
|business
|finance
Definición
Responsible by law for something bad that happens, often having to pay money for it.
Legally responsible for something, especially for paying for damage, loss, or injury that has occurred.
B2
2
hajlamos
B1
Patrón de uso:
liable to [do something]
He's liable to forget your birthday if you don't remind him.
Hajlamos elfelejteni a születésnapodat, ha nem emlékezteted rá.
That old laptop is liable to crash if you open too many programs.
Az a régi laptop hajlamos lefagyni, ha túl sok programot nyitsz meg rajta.
Be careful what you say; she's liable to take it the wrong way.
The weather here is liable to change very quickly.
If you push him too hard, he's liable to quit.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
He is liable to be late for meetings.
Hajlamos elkésni a megbeszélésekről.
This cheap phone is liable to break soon.
Ez az olcsó telefon hajlamos hamar elromlani.
The train is liable to arrive late in bad weather.
She is tired, so she is liable to make mistakes.
If you eat too fast, you are liable to feel sick.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "liable" when "likely" would sound more natural in modern English. "Liable to" is often used for negative or unwanted results ("liable to break"), while "likely to" works for both good and bad outcomes. Also avoid saying "liable that"; use "liable to [do]" instead.
Significado
Likely to do something bad
Colocaciones
liable to forget
|liable to make mistakes
|liable to say the wrong thing
|liable to cause problems
|liable to change
|liable to be late
Sinónimos
likely (More general and neutral; does not carry the same slight negative or problematic tone as "liable to" often does.)
|
prone (Very similar, but often used for habits or repeated behavior rather than single events.)
Antónimos
unlikely (Direct opposite in terms of probability; suggests something probably will not happen.)
Temas
daily life
|probability
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Likely to do something, especially something bad or not wanted.
Likely to do or say something, especially something unwanted, careless, or unfortunate.
B2
3
Patrón de uso:
liable to [something]
Children are more liable to infection than adults.
A gyerekek fogékonyabbak a fertőzésekre, mint a felnőttek.
This material is very liable to damage if it gets wet.
Ez az anyag nagyon könnyen károsodik, ha nedvesség éri.
The region is liable to flooding after heavy rain.
Older buildings are especially liable to earthquake damage.
Some people are more liable to error when they are under pressure.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
My skin is liable to sunburn.
A bőröm hajlamos a leégésre.
Old cars are liable to rust.
A régi autók hajlamosak rozsdásodni.
This road is liable to flooding in winter.
He is weak and liable to illness.
The glass is thin and liable to break.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the "likely to do something" sense. Here, the subject usually does not actively do the action, but is affected by it ("liable to infection" = infection happens to them). Also, use a noun after "liable to" in this sense, not a verb (say "liable to injury," not "liable to injure" when you mean they might be injured).
Significado
Prone or susceptible to something
Colocaciones
liable to injury
|liable to infection
|liable to damage
|liable to corrosion
|liable to error
|liable to flooding
Sinónimos
prone (Very close in meaning; often used for physical or emotional tendencies ("prone to headaches").)
|
susceptible (Sounds slightly more formal and technical, common in medical or scientific contexts.)
Antónimos
resistant (Used especially when something does not easily suffer from a problem, damage, or disease.)
Temas
health
|science
|daily life
Definición
Easily affected by something, like an illness or damage.
Likely to be affected by something, especially an illness, problem, or type of damage.
C1
FORMAL
4
Patrón de uso:
liable to [tax/penalty]
All imported goods are liable to tax at the standard rate.
Az importált áruk mindegyike az általános kulcs szerint adóköteles.
Anyone who commits fraud is liable to imprisonment under this law.
Aki csalást követ el, e törvény alapján szabadságvesztéssel büntethető.
Certain benefits are not liable to income tax.
Drivers caught speeding may be liable to a substantial fine.
Foreign nationals without a visa are liable to deportation.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
In this country, all workers are liable to income tax.
Ebben az országban minden munkavállaló köteles jövedelemadót fizetni.
If you park here, you are liable to a fine.
Ha itt parkolsz, megbírságolhatnak.
Smoking in this area is liable to a heavy penalty.
The company is liable to prosecution if it breaks the safety rules.
The products are liable to customs duty at the border.
Error frecuente:
Learners may mix this with the more general "liable to" = "likely to" meaning. In legal or official texts, "liable to" followed by words like "tax," "fine," or "imprisonment" usually means "legally subject to," not just "likely to." Also, be careful not to say "liable for tax to"; use "liable to tax" or "liable for tax" consistently, depending on the style of the text.
Significado
Legally subject to tax or penalty
Colocaciones
liable to tax
|liable to income tax
|liable to a fine
|liable to imprisonment
|liable to prosecution
|liable to arrest
Sinónimos
subject to (Common in legal and official writing; slightly broader, can be used outside law as well.)
Antónimos
exempt from (Used when a person or thing does not have to pay a tax or face a penalty that would normally apply.)
Temas
law
|finance
|government
Definición
Having to pay a tax or possibly receive a legal punishment according to the law.
Legally subject to a tax, duty, penalty, or other official charge or punishment.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
liable
AFI
GB/lˈaɪəbəl/
US/lˈaɪəbəl/
Sílabas y acento
li - able (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (li)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: liable
Familia de palabras
Core family
liability
noun B2
Expresiones
be held liable
1/bˈi hˈɛld lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Be officially found responsible
To be officially decided, usually by a court or authority, to be legally responsible for something bad that happened.
Ejemplos
- The manufacturer was held liable after the product caused serious injuries.
- If the data is leaked, the company could be held liable under privacy laws.
- The landlord was held liable for failing to repair the broken stairs.
hold someone liable
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Decide someone is legally responsible
To officially say that a person or group must accept legal responsibility for something bad that happened.
Ejemplos
- The court held the surgeon liable for the patient's death.
- The tenants argue that the building owner should be held liable for the fire.
- Regulators may hold the company liable for any environmental damage.
liable for damages
1/lˈaɪəbəl fɚ dˈæmɪd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
formal
Responsible for paying compensation
Legally required to pay money to someone because you caused loss, injury, or harm.
Ejemplos
- The firm was found liable for damages after the data breach.
- If you break the contract, you may be liable for damages.
- The insurance company is liable for damages up to $50,000.
liable for tax
1/lˈaɪəbəl fɚ tˈæks/
fixed phrase
formal
Required to pay tax
Having to pay a particular tax according to the law.
Ejemplos
- Most employees are liable for tax on their salaries.
- Scholarships may not be liable for tax in some countries.
- Foreign income can be liable for tax in your home country.
liable to tax
1/lˈaɪəbəl tə tˈæks/
fixed phrase
formal
Legally subject to taxation
In a group of things that the government can legally tax.
Ejemplos
- Pension payments are liable to tax at the normal rate.
- Certain benefits are not liable to tax under this scheme.
- All interest earned may be liable to tax in your country of residence.
personally liable
1/pˈɚsənəli lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Individually responsible with own money
Responsible with your own money and property, not just through a company or organization.
Ejemplos
- As a sole trader, you are personally liable for all business debts.
- Directors can be personally liable if they act dishonestly.
- Without limited liability, investors would be personally liable for company losses.
strictly liable
1/stɹˈɪktli lˈaɪəbəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Liable even without proving fault
Legally responsible for harm even if nobody can show that you were careless or did something wrong.
Ejemplos
- In some product cases, manufacturers are strictly liable for defects.
- The company is strictly liable for pollution caused by its pipeline.
- Owners of dangerous animals may be strictly liable for any injuries.