responsible

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/rɪˈspɒnsɪbəl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ri sponsə bəl)

WordReference Collins English Usage © 2026
responsible
‘responsible for’
If you are responsible for doing something, it is your job or duty to do it.
The children were responsible for cleaning their own rooms.
Be careful
Don't say that someone is ‘responsible to do’ something.
If you are responsible for something bad that has happened, it is your fault.
They were charged with being responsible for the death of two policemen.
Be careful
Don't use any preposition except for after responsible in a sentence like this.
used after a noun
Responsible can also be used after a noun. If you talk about ‘the person responsible’, you mean ‘the person who is responsible for what has happened’.
I hope they police find the man responsible.
The company responsible refused to say what happened.
used in front of a noun
However, if you use responsible in front of a noun, it has a completely different meaning. A responsible person is someone who can be trusted to behave properly and sensibly.
Responsible adults wouldn't leave poisons lying around for their children to play with.
Responsible behaviour is sensible and correct.
I thought it was a very responsible decision.
'responsible' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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