answer for (something)
idiom
1
: to take responsibility for (something)
I can't answer for their safety.
The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees.
2
: to be punished for (something)
He must answer for his crimes.
3
US
: to be used or serve as (something)
The old bucket answered for a sink.
Examples of answer for (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What’s the answer for stopping a player who has logged at least 100 points in seven of the past eight seasons?
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 June 2024
Joy Takemoto Concord Two-state solution is answer for deadly foes
There’s a famous quote regarding the bombings during the Tet Offensive.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
As of last month, the district portal links to the state portal where parents can view what percentile their child scored in and how their child’s scores compare to the state, district and campus results while also viewing specific test questions and their child’s answer for each.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Now, that’s not to say that the SM58 is the answer for everything.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 30 May 2024
This was a totally unacceptable answer for Walton, who had befriended the Dead in the mid-1970s during his time playing for the Portland Trailblazers.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2024
Even with Brunson a busted foot, Indiana didn’t have an answer for the 6-foot-2 lefty.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 May 2024
Thompson seemingly had an answer for every Century defender thrown at him, finishing with a game-high 25 points, determined to come home with the second win of the season over his school’s arch rival.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Aledo takes game one from Centennial in pitchers’ duel
Burleson Centennial did not have an answer for Aledo ace Brenlee Gonzales in game one of the Class 5A region one final.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 June 2024
Joy Takemoto Concord Two-state solution is answer for deadly foes
There’s a famous quote regarding the bombings during the Tet Offensive.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024
As of last month, the district portal links to the state portal where parents can view what percentile their child scored in and how their child’s scores compare to the state, district and campus results while also viewing specific test questions and their child’s answer for each.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
Now, that’s not to say that the SM58 is the answer for everything.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 30 May 2024
This was a totally unacceptable answer for Walton, who had befriended the Dead in the mid-1970s during his time playing for the Portland Trailblazers.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2024
Even with Brunson a busted foot, Indiana didn’t have an answer for the 6-foot-2 lefty.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 May 2024
Thompson seemingly had an answer for every Century defender thrown at him, finishing with a game-high 25 points, determined to come home with the second win of the season over his school’s arch rival.
—Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Aledo takes game one from Centennial in pitchers’ duel
Burleson Centennial did not have an answer for Aledo ace Brenlee Gonzales in game one of the Class 5A region one final.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'answer for (something).' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near answer for (something)
Cite this Entry
“Answer for (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20for%20%28something%29. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
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