answer for (something)

idiom

: 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.

: to be punished for (something)

He must answer for his crimes.

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Kings, a reputable defensive team with Anze Kopitar, one of the better defending centers of his generation, had no answer for Crosby other than relying on the hockey gods. —

Rob Rossi, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024 No one knew the answer for any dimension higher than three until 2016, when the Ukrainian mathematician Maryna Viazovska proved that particular lattices are optimal for packing spheres in eight- and 24-dimensional space. —

Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024 Tatum scored 13 in the quarter, but the Bulls had an answer for each. —

Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2024 Learn More View More What rapid rescore doesn’t do A rapid rescore isn’t an answer for every credit woe. —

Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for answer for (something)

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“Answer for (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20for%20%28something%29. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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