RESPONSIBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does responsible mean? 

• RESPONSIBLE (adjective)
  The adjective RESPONSIBLE has 3 senses:

1. worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

2. being the agent or cause

3. having an acceptable credit rating

  Familiarity information: RESPONSIBLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESPONSIBLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

Context example:

the cabinet is responsible to the parliament

Similar:

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)

Also:

obligated (caused by law or conscience to follow a certain course)

prudent (careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment)

trustworthy; trusty (worthy of trust or belief)

Attribute:

responsibility; responsibleness (a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct)

Antonym:

irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)

Derivation:

responsibility; responsibleness (a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being the agent or cause

Synonyms:

responsible; responsible for

Context example:

termites were responsible for the damage

Similar:

causative (producing an effect)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having an acceptable credit rating

Synonyms:

creditworthy; responsible

Context example:

a responsible borrower

Similar:

trustworthy; trusty (worthy of trust or belief)

Derivation:

responsibleness (a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct)

 Context examples 

I am all the family that this young man has got, and I tell you that I am not responsible.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Settin' a fine example to the children," Mr. Higginbotham snorted, suddenly, in the silence for which his wife was responsible and which he resented.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is responsible for the synthesis of glucocorticoids, aldosterone, and androgens.

(Adrenal Cortical Cell, NCI Thesaurus)

MCT1, a protein overexpressed on tumor cells, is responsible for the transport of monocarboxylates across the cell membrane and plays a key role in cell metabolism.

(Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 Inhibitor AZD3965, NCI Thesaurus)

Although the exact mechanism by which acotiamide exerts its effect has yet to be fully elucidated, this agent appears to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AchE), an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine (Ach).

(Acotiamide, NCI Thesaurus)

The physician responsible for the administration and medical care a patient receives.

(Attending Physician, NCI Thesaurus)

Compounds called flavanols are thought to be responsible for many of chocolate’s beneficial effects.

(Can Chocolate Really Be Good for You?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A coded value specifying the anatomical grouping that consists of organs and organ subclasses that are together responsible for certain body functions.

(Body System Code, NCI Thesaurus)

If you are leaving town, you must have someone responsible lined up to help a family member, if necessary, for something unexpected might surface out of the blue.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The individual who is responsible for the content of a document.

(Author, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)