accountable meaning

accountable means being responsible for something or someone.

accountable :

responsible, answerable

adjective

▪ She is accountable for the project.

▪ She is responsible for the project.

▪ He is accountable to his boss.

▪ He is answerable to his boss.

paraphrasing

▪ liable – responsible

▪ answerable – required to explain

▪ responsible – in charge

▪ obliged – required to do something

Pronunciation

accountable [əˈkaʊntəbl]

The stress is on 'count' and sounds like 'uh-kown-tuh-bl'.

Common phrases and grammar about accountable

accountable - Common meaning

adjective
responsible, answerable

Part of Speech Changes for "accountable"

▪ accountability (noun) – responsibility

▪ account (noun) – a report or description

Common Expressions with "accountable"

▪ hold accountable – make responsible

▪ accountable for actions – responsible for what you do

▪ accountable to someone – answerable to a person

▪ be accountable – be responsible

Important examples of accountable in TOEIC

Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test

In TOEIC vocabulary questions, accountable often means being responsible for actions or decisions.

▪Managers are accountable for team results.
▪Managers are responsible for team results.

Example of a confusing word: countable (able to be counted)

▪Managers are countable for team results.
▪The number of team members is countable.
"Accountable" is an adjective meaning "responsible" or "answerable" for something, typically used in contexts where someone is expected to justify their actions or decisions. In the sentence "Managers are accountable for team results," the use of "accountable" is grammatically correct. "Countable," however, means "able to be counted" and is not related to responsibility. Using "countable" in this context is grammatically incorrect and changes the intended meaning entirely. Therefore, "accountable" is the correct choice.

Grammar examples from the TOEIC test

As an adjective, accountable describes someone who must explain actions or decisions in TOEIC questions.

▪She is accountable to the board.
▪She is answerable to the board.

accountable

Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC

hold accountable

'make someone responsible', used in business contexts.

▪We must hold him accountable for the mistake.
▪We must make him responsible for the mistake.

be held accountable

means 'to be made responsible', used in formal settings.

▪Employees should be held accountable for their work.
▪Employees should be made responsible for their work.

Differences between similar words and accountable

accountable

,

responsible

differences

Accountable is used when someone must explain actions, while responsible is more general for being in charge.

accountable
▪She is accountable for the budget.
▪She is responsible for the budget.
responsible
▪He is responsible for the team.
▪He is in charge of the team.

accountable

,

liable

differences

Accountable means being responsible to someone, while liable often means legally responsible.

accountable
▪She is accountable to her supervisor.
▪He is legally responsible for the damages.
liable
▪He is liable for the damages.
▪He is legally responsible for the damages.

Words with the same origin as accountable

The origin of accountable

accountable comes from the root word 'account', which originally meant to count or calculate.

Word structure

It has the root account (to count) and suffix able (capable of), meaning 'capable of being counted on'.

Words with the same origin

The root of accountable is account (to count). Words with the same root include recount (to tell again), counter (to oppose), accountant (a person who counts money).

Please select an image in the quiz

Quiz

question

Your score is

Previous post and next post

status

status

177
▪check the status
▪update status
noun ┃
Views 4
status

status

177
position, condition
▪check the status – look at the condition
▪update status – change the condition
noun ┃
Views 4
accountable

accountable

178
▪hold accountable
▪accountable for actions
current
post
adjective ┃
Views 5
accountable

accountable

178
responsible, answerable
▪hold accountable – make responsible
▪accountable for actions – responsible for what you do
adjective ┃
Views 5
dependable
▪dependable service
▪dependable source
adjective ┃
Views 4
dependable
reliable, trustworthy
▪dependable service – reliable service
▪dependable source – trustworthy source
adjective ┃
Views 4
adjustment
▪make an adjustment
▪minor adjustment
noun ┃
Views 3
adjustment
change, modification
▪make an adjustment – to change something slightly
▪minor adjustment – small change
noun ┃
Views 3
prestigious
▪prestigious award
▪prestigious institution
adjective ┃
Views 4
prestigious
respected, admired
▪prestigious award – respected prize
▪prestigious institution – respected organization
adjective ┃
Views 4
Same category words
finance, accounting

accountable

responsible, answerable
current post
178

inquiry

513

deficit

1798

abate

2051

Visitors & Members
5+