liable

/'laiəbl/

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The word "liable" is an adjective that means someone or something is responsible for something, especially in a legal sense. It can also mean likely to experience something unpleasant. Let’s break it down in a simple way:

Basic Explanation:

1. Legal Responsibility: When someone is "liable," it means they can be held responsible for something, usually in a legal way. For example, if someone causes a car accident, they might be liable to pay for the damages.

2. Likely to Happen: It can also mean that someone is likely to do something or to experience something unpleasant. For example, if a person has a health condition, you might say they are "liable to" have health issues.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "liable" in sentences to describe both legal responsibility and likelihood. It is often followed by "to" when talking about what someone is likely to do or experience.

Example Sentences:

1. Legal Responsibility: "The company is liable for any injuries that happen on its property."
2. Likelihood: "If you don’t study, you are liable to fail the test."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "liable" can be used in formal writing or discussions about legal matters, insurance, and risk management.

Word Variants:

• Liability (noun): This refers to the state of being responsible for something, especially in terms of legal obligations. Example: "The liability of the company was assessed after the accident."
• Liable (adjective): Used as described above.
• Liably (adverb): This is less commonly used, but it means in a way that suggests responsibility or likelihood.

Different Meanings:

1. Legal Context: When discussing laws, contracts, or insurance.
2. General Context: When referring to a person’s habits or behaviors that may lead to certain outcomes.

Synonyms:

• Responsible
• Accountable
• Likely
• Prone

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "liable" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you might find it used in phrases like: - "Liable to be" (indicating likelihood) - "Liable for damages" (indicating legal responsibility)

Summary:

"Liable" is a useful word that helps us talk about responsibility and likelihood, especially in legal and everyday situations.

Academic

Adjective

1. held legally responsible
   • men between the ages of 18 and 35 were liable for military service
2. (often followed by `to') likely to be affected with
   • liable to diabetes
3. subject to legal action
   • liable to criminal charges
4. at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant
   • he is apt to lose
   • she is liable to forget

Synonyms

• liable
• nonimmune
• nonresistant
• unresistant
• apt