responsible
adjective
re·spon·si·ble
ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl 
1
2
a
: able to answer for one's conduct and obligations : trustworthy
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
responsible financial policies
4
: politically answerable
especially
: required to submit to the electorate if defeated by the legislature
—used especially of the British cabinet
responsibleness
noun
Examples of responsible in a Sentence
"If you all die of typhoid I won't be responsible!" he snapped. "If you die of dullness, neither will I," Helen echoed in her heart.
—
Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.
—Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery, 1900, 1901
He resumed our walk with me, passing his hand into my arm. "Then when AM I going back?" I wore, in turning it over, my most responsible air.
—Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, 1898
She is a very responsible worker.
Is he responsible enough to have a car?
Virginia Woolf, The Voyage Out, 1915
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race. No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.
—Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery, 1900, 1901
He resumed our walk with me, passing his hand into my arm. "Then when AM I going back?" I wore, in turning it over, my most responsible air.
—Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, 1898
She is a very responsible worker.
Is he responsible enough to have a car?
Recent Examples on the Web
My question is, who is responsible for telling him off?
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
If dark matter isn’t responsible for the system — and follow-up observations by the Keck Observatory may answer that question — its a group of stars seen at the very end of their lives.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for responsible 
Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
If dark matter isn’t responsible for the system — and follow-up observations by the Keck Observatory may answer that question — its a group of stars seen at the very end of their lives.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for responsible
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'responsible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near responsible
Cite this Entry
“Responsible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/responsible. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
responsible
adjective
re·spon·si·ble
ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl
1
a
: being the one who must answer or account for something
the committee responsible for the job
b
: being the cause or explanation
the germ responsible for the disease
2
a
: able to meet one's obligations : reliable
a responsible citizen
b
: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3
: requiring a person to take charge of or be trusted with important matters
a responsible job
responsibleness
noun
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