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
The study doesn’t provide a definitive answer for why humans sing, but the researchers’ leading hypothesis is that music promotes social bonding.
—
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2024
There is, of course, no data that could attempt an answer for that.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
Congratulations — not only on your graduation, but for having the right answer for the use of an announcement.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 May 2024
But the woes of the 737 Max date back to its earliest days in service, and this isn’t the first time Boeing has had to answer for disasters caused by flaws in the plane’s design — some of them deadly.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 May 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, 9 May 2024
In the end, though, Denver still didn’t have an answer for Gobert’s front-court mate, Karl Anthony-Towns.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
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
No one, thus far, has had an answer for the Boilermaker’s 7-foot-4 center.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 2024
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2024
There is, of course, no data that could attempt an answer for that.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 May 2024
Congratulations — not only on your graduation, but for having the right answer for the use of an announcement.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 May 2024
But the woes of the 737 Max date back to its earliest days in service, and this isn’t the first time Boeing has had to answer for disasters caused by flaws in the plane’s design — some of them deadly.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 10 May 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, 9 May 2024
In the end, though, Denver still didn’t have an answer for Gobert’s front-court mate, Karl Anthony-Towns.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 6 May 2024
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
No one, thus far, has had an answer for the Boilermaker’s 7-foot-4 center.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 6 Apr. 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 23 May. 2024.
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