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

“Ultimately, current market conditions did not justify the level of investment required to responsibly move the project forward.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Dario Amodei and top Trump administration officials on Friday discussed how to responsibly unleash the company’s powerful new AI model, in one of the Anthropic CEO’s highest-profile efforts to ease tensions with the government.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Regardless of what job you’re applying for, communicating that you know how to use these tools responsibly and in a way that makes you more productive is key.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Northumberland National Park's head ranger has spotted dog mess next to the footpath just a few metres from a sign asking people to bag and dispose of it responsibly.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

“I’ll help you figure out how to spend it responsibly, but I won’t take a dime and you won’t bring it up again. Understood?”

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly