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

A company spokeswoman however insisted that it would handle the sale responsibly, adding: "No one has to fear losing their home."

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

These approaches could help calibrate systems more responsibly by testing how often an algorithm wrongly flags people or locations.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

A spokesperson for Just Eat said the firm had "robust processes and policies" to ensure alcohol was delivered "legally and responsibly" and provided "extra support by blocking accounts or addresses".

From BBC • May 10, 2026

Our agency remains dedicated to overseeing these markets thoroughly and responsibly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 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