liable

Legally responsible for something, especially paying for damage or a debt.

• You are liable for the debt.
• The driver was held liable for the damage.
• Who is legally liable if a customer gets hurt?

How to use it: be liable for something (The company is liable for the damage.); hold someone liable for something (The court held him liable for the repair costs.)

Similar words: responsible, accountable

Common phrases: liable for something, legally liable

Likely to do something or behave in a particular way, often an unpleasant one.

• She is liable to forget your name.
• He was liable to start an argument after drinking.
• Children are liable to ask awkward questions.

How to use it: be liable to do something (He is liable to lose his temper when tired.)

Similar words: likely, apt, prone

Common phrases: liable to forget, liable to do something

In a position where a punishment or other unpleasant treatment can legally be applied.

• Offenders are liable to imprisonment.
• The company may be liable to prosecution.
• Is this income liable to tax?

How to use it: be liable to something (Anyone breaking this rule is liable to a fine.)

Similar words: subject

Opposites: exempt

Common phrases: liable to prosecution, liable to imprisonment, liable to tax

Likely to suffer a particular problem or be affected by something harmful.

• These plants are liable to frost damage.
• The machine is liable to fail in extreme heat.
• Older pipes are more liable to leaks.

How to use it: be liable to something (Low fields are liable to flooding.); be liable to do something (These batteries are liable to overheat.)

Similar words: susceptible, prone, vulnerable

Common phrases: liable to damage, liable to malfunction