responsibly

American  

[ri-spahns-uhb-lee] / rɪˈspɑns əb li /

adverb

1. in a sensible, trustworthy, and prudent way.

2. in a way that reflects a duty or responsibility.

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Explanation

When you do something in a careful, trustworthy way, you do it responsibly. If you spend your money responsibly, you'll probably be able to save some of it. Acting responsibly is important in life — it's what makes people trust you, and it means you usually do things only after thinking them over and choosing what's wisest or most sensible. You can't get a driver's license until you prove you can drive responsibly. And, before someone hires you to babysit, they'll want to know you act responsibly. The Latin root is respons-, "answerable" or "offered in return."

Example Sentences

"I'm aware the vast majority of farmers dispose of fallen livestock responsibly and many share my disgust, but this is wrong and we need to see people apprehended for it", he said.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

By treating methane waste with the same gravity as a fire or a blowout, the industry can eliminate a major liability, addressing the world’s immediate energy needs efficiently and responsibly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

A lecturer at Oxford Brookes University told the BBC last June that "when used responsibly, AI tools enable students to direct their attention to the more important parts of learning and improve their self-development."

From BBC • May 18, 2026

"We've emphasised that being a global economic leader carries with it the duty to act responsibly on matters from energy to the environment to development in Africa," Bush said at the time.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

But Davis ruled that Carter had acted responsibly in deter-mining Edwards’s grade and that education commissioner Kirby had no standing to determine that Edwards was ineligible.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger