Phrase guide

answer for

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be held responsible for; to take the blame for something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • The mayor will be answering for his crimes for many years.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To guarantee.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I will answer for his debt, if he can't pay on the day.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To vouch for (someone); to attest to the character of (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • She's known me for years, and she's always answered for me!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see answer, for.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I don't know the answer to that, so I'm going to let my lawyer answer for me.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

furnish a justifying analysis or explanation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I can't account for the missing money

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: account

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: declare

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vastata — to be held responsible for
  • Hungarian: felel — to be held responsible for
  • Norwegian: svare for — to be held responsible for
  • Polish: odpowiadać za — to be held responsible for
  • Polish: odpowiedzieć za — to be held responsible for
  • Portuguese: responder por — to be held responsible for
  • Russian: отвечать за (otvečatʹ za) — to be held responsible for