responsibilitynoun
uk/rɪˌspɒn.sɪˈbɪl.ə.ti/us/rɪˌspɑːn.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/responsibility noun (DUTY)
B2 [ C or U ] something that it is your job or duty to deal with:
[ + to infinitive ] It's her responsibility to ensure the project finishes on time.
She takes her responsibilities as a nurse very seriously.
have responsibility
to be in a position of authority over someone and to have a duty to make certain that particular things are done:
Who has responsibility here?
Jenny, you have responsibility for collecting up the books after the class.
have a responsibility to sb
to have a duty to work for or help someone who is in a position of authority over you:
The company says it cannot cut its prices any more because it has a responsibility to its shareholders.
More examples
- Fatherhood is a lifelong responsibility.
- Colin Lamb has taken over responsibility for this project.
- The council denied that their decision represented any abdication of responsibility.
- We have the chance to build an outward-looking Europe that lives up to its global responsibilities.
- Your responsibilities will be mainly administrative.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Duty, obligation and responsibility
- accountable
- answer for sb/sth
- answer for sth
- answer to sb
- answerable
- brother
- commitment
- fail
- have sth on your hands idiom
- I am not my brother's keeper idiom
- in the hot seat idiom
- incharge
- it's your own lookout idiom
- portfolio
- responsible
- risk
- saddle sb with sth
- social contract
- stick
- stick sb with sth
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Power to control
responsibility noun (BLAME)
B2 [ U ] blame for something that has happened:
Terrorists have claimed responsibility for (= stated that they caused) yesterday's bomb attack.
The minister took/accepted full responsibility for (= admitted that he was to blame for) the disaster and resigned.
More examples
- He denied all responsibility for the rumours which have been circulating.
- We disclaim all responsibility for this disaster.
- The report exonerated the crew from all responsibility for the collision.
- I accept full responsibility for the failure of the plan.
- It's your decision - you must bear the responsibility if things go wrong.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Innocent
- accuse
- acquit
- acquittal
- be above/beyond reproach idiom
- be in the clear idiom
- beat
- beat the rap idiom
- clear
- come up/out smelling of roses idiom
- culpable
- exculpate
- exonerate
- guiltless
- guilty
- innocent
- reproach
- responsible
- sin 1
- squeaky-clean
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responsibility noun (GOOD JUDGMENT)
[ U ] good judgment and the ability to act correctly and make decisions on your own:
He has no sense of responsibility.
The job carries a lot of responsibility (= it involves making important decisions).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Wise and sensible
- an old/a wise head on young shoulders idiom
- be a victory for common sense idiom
- canny
- discerning
- discriminating
- far-sighted
- gnomic
- legitimacy
- neatly
- no flies on sb idiom
- no-nonsense
- out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings) idiom
- perspective
- right-minded
- sagacious
- sage
- savoir-faire
- sensible
- wise
- wisely
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Idiom(s)
act/do sth on your own responsibility