What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Responsible vs Oversee - What's the difference?

responsible | oversee |

As an adjective responsible

is answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.

As a verb oversee is

(literally) to survey, look at something in a wide angle.

responsible

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
    • , author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter , title=The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , volume=100, issue=2, page=87 , magazine= citation , passage=But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.}}
    Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
  • Capable of responding to any reasonable claim; able to answer reasonably for one's conduct and obligations; capable of rational conduct.
  • Involving responsibility; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
    • She has a responsible position in the firm.
  • Being a primary cause or agent of some event or action; capable of being credited for something, or of being held liable for something.
    • Who is responsible for this mess?
  • Able to be trusted; reliable; trustworthy.
    • He looks like a responsible guy.

    Antonyms

    * irresponsible

    Related terms

    * respond * response * responsibility * responsibleness * responsibly

    References

    * *

    oversee

    English

    Verb

    (transitive)
  • (literally) To survey, look at something in a wide angle.
  • (figuratively) To supervise, guide, review or direct the actions of a person or group.
    • It is congress's duty to oversee the spending of federal funds.
  • To inspect, examine
    • Gamekeepers oversee a hunting ground to see to the wildlife's welfare and look for poachers.
  • (obsolete) To fail to see; to overlook, ignore.
  • * , II.ix:
    • Thereat the Elfe did blush in priuitee, / And turnd his face away; but she the same / Dissembled faire, and faynd to ouersee .
  • To observe secretly or unintentionally.

    • Derived terms

    * overseer * oversight

    See also

    * overlook * overwatch