liable

adjective

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li·a·ble | \ ˈlī-ə-bəl

, especially in sense 2 often ˈlī-bəl\

Definition of liable

1a : obligated according to law or equity (see equity sense 3) : responsible liable for the debts incurred by his wife

b : subject to appropriation or attachment All his property is liable to pay his debts.

2a : being in a position to incur —used with toliable to a fine

b : exposed or subject to some usually adverse contingency or action watch out or you're liable to fall

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Liable vs. Apt: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about liable

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Choose the Right Synonym for liable

liable, open, exposed, subject, prone, susceptible, sensitive mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse. liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation. liable to get lost open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence. a claim open to question exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening. exposed to infection subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone. all reports are subject to review prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something. prone to delay susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable. very susceptible to flattery sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli. unduly sensitive to criticism

synonyms see in addition responsible

Examples of liable in a Sentence

If someone gets hurt on your property, you could be liable. because of his frail constitution, he's liable to diseases

Recent Examples on the Web In May a court ruled that his employer, the rail-engineering company TSO, is liable for the death and must provide compensation to the employee’s family. — oregonlive, "Having fatal sex is an industrial accident, French court rules; company must pay for dead employee’s final fling," 13 Sep. 2019 The Registration Convention requires registration with the United Nations before sending something to space and the Liability Convention states that a nation is liable for damage if its space object harms someone else's. — Deanna Paul, Anchorage Daily News, "Space: The final legal frontier," 1 Sep. 2019 The suit also alleges Juul is liable for failure to warn its customers about nicotine addiction. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, sun-sentinel.com, "Vaping triggers health issues for Florida teens," 31 Aug. 2019 Other federal appeals courts have held that Amazon isn't liable. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, "With Prime Day, Amazon creates urgent shopping on two otherwise nameless summer workdays," 15 July 2019 The chicks hatch in late June and early July, and during that time, are liable to hatch and flee the nest just about any time between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., Willis says. — National Geographic, "Why day-old geese jump off cliffs—and how some survive," 28 Mar. 2019 After their wedding the tabloids were quick to speculate that some of the couple’s U.K. assets would come under scrutiny by the IRS, since, as an American citizen, Meghan is liable to be taxed on all her overseas earnings. — David Mcclure, Town & Country, "How Queen Elizabeth's Fortune Is Divided Among the Members of the Royal Family," 16 Feb. 2019 In October, Jean’s family filed a federal lawsuit against Guyger and the city of Dallas, arguing that the former officer violated Jean’s constitutional rights and that the Dallas Police Department is liable for Jean’s death. — P.r. Lockhart, Vox, "Amber Guyger has been indicted for murder after the Botham Jean shooting," 30 Nov. 2018 But the case failed to hold the federal government liable for its lawyer’s actions. — Washington Post, "US wants $100,000-plus from immigrant who sued over forgery," 12 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'liable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for liable

liable

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of liable

: legally responsible for something

: likely to be affected or harmed by something

: likely to do something

See the full definition for liable in the English Language Learners Dictionary

liable

adjective

li·a·ble | \ ˈlī-ə-bəl

Kids Definition of liable

1 : likely sense 1 It's liable to rain.

2 : judged by law to be responsible for something We are liable for damage that we do.

3 : not sheltered or protected (as from danger or accident) liable to injury

liable

adjective

li·a·ble | \ ˈlī-ə-bəl

Legal Definition of liable

1 : answerable according to law : bound or obligated according to law or equity one is liable as an accomplice to the crime of another— W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr. the estate is liable for succession taxes — Commissioner of Revenue Services v. Estate of Culpepper, 493 A.2d 297 (1985)

2a : being in a position to incur —used with to liable to a fine property liable to duties

b : subject or amenable according to law

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