responsible
gb/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/ us/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
B1
Anglais
~ 1100
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B1
property
1
having a duty to do something
Having to take care of something or make sure something happens.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is responsible for [something/doing something]
Erreur fréquente :
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.
Synonymes
accountable (Often used in formal contexts to stress being answerable for actions or results.)
Antonymes
irresponsible (Describes someone who fails to meet duties or obligations.)
Collocations
responsible for managing
|responsible for ensuring
|responsible for safety
|responsible adult
|held responsible
Thèmes
daily life
|work
|law
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She is responsible for organizing the event.
- Parents are responsible for their children's safety.
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I am responsible for my dog.
- She is responsible for cleaning the room.
- He is responsible for making dinner.
- We are responsible for our homework.
adjective
B1
property
2
being the cause of something
Causing something to happen, especially something bad.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone/something] is responsible for [something happening]
Erreur fréquente :
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.
Synonymes
to blame (Informal and often used in contexts of fault or guilt.)
Antonymes
blameless (Indicates no fault or causal link to an outcome.)
Collocations
responsible for damage
|responsible for the accident
|responsible for injuries
Thèmes
law
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Who is responsible for this mess?
- The company is responsible for the pollution in the river.
- He was responsible for breaking the vase.
- They are responsible for starting the fire.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She is responsible for the broken glass.
- He is responsible for the noise.
- They are responsible for the problem.
adjective
B1
property
3
showing good judgment
Behaving in a careful and sensible way; doing what is right.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is responsible in [behavior/action]
Synonymes
reliable (Focuses more on dependability rather than moral judgment.)
Antonymes
reckless (Suggests acting without thinking about risks or consequences.)
Collocations
a responsible decision
|a responsible choice
|a responsible citizen
Thèmes
daily life
|character
|core_vocabulary
|work
Exemples
- She’s a very responsible driver.
- That was a responsible choice under the circumstances.
- We need someone responsible to look after the kids.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He is a responsible student.
- She made a responsible choice.
- They are very responsible friends.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
responsible
API
GB/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
US/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl/
Syllabes et accentuation
re - spons - ible (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (spons)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: responsible
- Comparative: responsibler
- Superlative: responsiblest
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- She took responsibility for completing the report on time.
- He needs to take responsibility for his mistakes.