B1noun 1K

Responsibility

🇬🇧 UK /["/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/"]/

Meaning of Responsibility

a duty to deal with or take care of somebody/something, so that you may be blamed if something goes wrong

In simple words: Being in charge of something you must take care of.

Responsibility in a sentence

• Taking care of your pet is a big responsibility.
• As the team leader, she has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.
• He was relieved when he delegated some of his responsibilities to others.
• Parents have the responsibility to provide for their children.
• With great power comes great responsibility.

How to use Responsibility

Use in situations where someone has duties or obligations. It fits well in both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using it in very casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

responsibility + for + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'response' + 'ability' — you respond to situations through your responsibilities.

Related words

Collocations with Responsibility

• complete
• full
• total
• have
• accept
• acknowledge
• fall on somebody
• fall to somebody
• lie with somebody
• responsibility for
• responsibility towards/​toward
• the age of criminal responsibility
• the burden of responsibility
• do something on your own responsibility
• complete
• full
• total
• have
• accept
• acknowledge
• fall on somebody
• fall to somebody
• lie with somebody
• responsibility for
• responsibility towards/​toward
• the age of criminal responsibility
• the burden of responsibility
• do something on your own responsibility
• heavy
• major
• onerous
• have
• carry out
• discharge
• responsibility for
• responsibility to
• responsibility towards/​toward
• duties and responsibilities
• rights and responsibilities

Synonyms for Responsibility

• duty
• obligation
• accountability
• responsibleness
• liability

Opposites of Responsibility

• irresponsibility
• neglect
• carelessness

Common mistakes with Responsibility

• Saying 'responsibility to' instead of 'responsibility for'.
• Confusing 'responsibility' with 'responsible'.
• Using it in singular form incorrectly in plural contexts.

Frequently asked questions about Responsibility

What does Responsibility mean?

Being in charge of something you must take care of.

What is the definition of Responsibility?

a duty to deal with or take care of somebody/something, so that you may be blamed if something goes wrong

How do you use Responsibility in a sentence?

Taking care of your pet is a big responsibility.

Can you give another example of Responsibility?

As the team leader, she has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.

What are synonyms for Responsibility?

Common alternatives include duty, obligation, accountability, responsibleness, liability.

What is the opposite of Responsibility?

Opposite meanings include irresponsibility, neglect, carelessness.

What words go with Responsibility?

It commonly pairs with complete, full, total, have, accept, acknowledge, fall on somebody, fall to somebody, lie with somebody, responsibility for, responsibility towards/​toward, the age of criminal responsibility, the burden of responsibility, do something on your own responsibility, complete, full, total, have, accept, acknowledge, fall on somebody, fall to somebody, lie with somebody, responsibility for, responsibility towards/​toward, the age of criminal responsibility, the burden of responsibility, do something on your own responsibility, heavy, major, onerous, have, carry out, discharge, responsibility for, responsibility to, responsibility towards/​toward, duties and responsibilities, rights and responsibilities.

What are common mistakes when using Responsibility?

Saying 'responsibility to' instead of 'responsibility for'. Confusing 'responsibility' with 'responsible'. Using it in singular form incorrectly in plural contexts.

How do you pronounce Responsibility?

US: /["/rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/"]/, UK: /["/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Responsibility?

Use in situations where someone has duties or obligations. It fits well in both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using it in very casual conversations.

What CEFR level is Responsibility?

"Responsibility" is at B1 level on the CEFR scale.