responsibly

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /rɪˈspɑnsəbli/ UK /rɪˈspɒnsəbli/ See IPA manual

adv

Meanings

1

adv
in a sensible, accountable, or trustworthy manner

He urged citizens to use water responsibly during the drought.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a sensible, accountable,... sensiblyaccountablydependablyreliably conscientiously prudently

Opposites

irresponsibly recklessly carelessly

Word family

Related forms responsible responsibility respond response

Etymology

From responsible + -ly, from Latin responsus, past participle of respondere ('to answer, pledge in return'), from re- ('back') + spondere ('to promise, pledge').

respondere Latin spondere Latin

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Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# responsibly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** rɪˈspɑnsəbli
**IPA (UK):** rɪˈspɒnsəbli

## Meanings
1. in a sensible, accountable, or trustworthy manner

## Examples
- He urged citizens to use water responsibly during the drought.

## Synonyms
- sensibly
- accountably
- dependably
- reliably
- conscientiously
- prudently

## Antonyms
- irresponsibly
- recklessly
- carelessly

## Related Forms
- responsible
- responsibility
- respond
- response

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: respondere
- Root: spondere

## Etymology
From responsible + -ly, from Latin responsus, past participle of respondere ('to answer, pledge in return'), from re- ('back') + spondere ('to promise, pledge').

## AI Etymology
Responsibly comes from responsible + -ly, from Latin responsus, past participle of respondere ('to answer, pledge in return'), from re- ('back') + spondere ('to promise, pledge'). The prefix changes the base's direction, polarity, or scope, while the suffix fixes the word's final grammatical role. As an adverb, it carries the sense "in a sensible, accountable, or trustworthy manner", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin respondere and Latin spondere. Related words include responsible, responsibility, respond, response.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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