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
At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, San Diego Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh held Caringal to answer for charges of murder and assault on a child causing death.
—
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The Enquirer's Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, not even Google.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 14 Apr. 2024
No one, thus far, has had an answer for the Boilermaker’s 7-foot-4 center.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
Leggett echoed Afualo’s statement about women of color having to answer for problematic comments made by white people.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, there isn't a clear answer for pet owners because eclipses happen so infrequently.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
Israel has no immediate answer for such weapons, which allow for more precise line-of-sight targeting, fly low to the ground and hit targets in seconds and without warning.
—Isabel Kershner Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The Lakers had no answer for De’Aaron Fox, who had his way with 44 points.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Vinson Cunningham’s new novel takes the reader back to a time when many thought the nation’s first Black president had an answer for every American ailment.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
The Enquirer's Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, not even Google.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 14 Apr. 2024
No one, thus far, has had an answer for the Boilermaker’s 7-foot-4 center.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
Leggett echoed Afualo’s statement about women of color having to answer for problematic comments made by white people.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, there isn't a clear answer for pet owners because eclipses happen so infrequently.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
Israel has no immediate answer for such weapons, which allow for more precise line-of-sight targeting, fly low to the ground and hit targets in seconds and without warning.
—Isabel Kershner Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The Lakers had no answer for De’Aaron Fox, who had his way with 44 points.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Vinson Cunningham’s new novel takes the reader back to a time when many thought the nation’s first Black president had an answer for every American ailment.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 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 27 Apr. 2024.
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