Responsible - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT responsible /rəˈspɑnsɪbəl/ /rəˈspɒnsɪbəl/ IPA guide

If you're the responsible one, everyone is depending on you to take care of it. And, if things go poorly, it's all your fault.

Sounds like a drag to be responsible but really it is what we all want out of life. After all, when you're responsible, you get the keys to the car, you make your own decisions, and you get all the credit. Parents love the responsible babysitter who doesn't text with her friends and feed the kids bowls of ice cream. Of course, the boy who is responsible for bringing firecrackers to the football game will not be looked upon with the same level of respect. Responsibility can bring all the glory, but all the blame too.

Definitions of responsible

adjective worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable “a responsible adult” “responsible journalism” “a responsible position” “the captain is responsible for the ship's safety” “the cabinet is responsible to the parliament” synonyms: obligated caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course prudent careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment accountable liable to account for one's actions answerable morally or legally responsible to a higher authority amenable liable to answer to a higher authority liable held legally responsible trustworthy taking responsibility for one's conduct and obligations trustworthy, trusty worthy of trust or belief see moresee less antonyms: irresponsible showing lack of care for consequences carefree, devil-may-care, freewheeling, happy-go-lucky, harum-scarum, slaphappy cheerfully irresponsible do-nothing characterized by inability or unwillingness to work toward a goal or assume responsibility feckless not fit to assume responsibility idle, loose lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility trigger-happy irresponsible in the use of firearms unaccountable free from control or responsibility unreliable lacking a sense of responsibility show more antonyms...
adjective having an acceptable credit rating “a responsible borrower” synonyms: creditworthy trustworthy, trusty worthy of trust or belief
adjective being the agent or cause “determined who was the responsible party” “termites were responsible for the damage” synonyms: responsible for causative producing an effect

Pronunciation US /rəˈspɑnsɪbəl/ UK /rəˈspɒnsɪbəl/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘responsible'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing responsible

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

A thorough survey of various textbooks, assignments, content area standards, and examinations yields the following list of words compiled by Jim Burke. You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the directions.

PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)

Before you can answer a question on the PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy section, you first need to know what the question is asking. Learn this list of 70 words that we extracted from a PARCC practice test's directions, question stems, and answer options.

NAEP Test Words

Words included in the 2009 and 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests of fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade vocabulary. Read about the test here.

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