[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/liable/)

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# liable

adjective (liable)

«liable» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) If you are liable for something, you are responsible by law, for example you must pay for damage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#m1)
2. If something is liable to happen, it is likely to happen, usually something bad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#m2)
3. (formal) Liable to something means likely to get it or be affected by it, like a fine or an illness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#m3)

### In the lessons

It appears in rules, signs and formal notices: "Parents are liable for damage". In everyday talk: "That shelf is liable to fall". Phrases: liable for (responsible), liable to (likely), held liable.

### Examples

- You will be liable for any damage to the books. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x1)
- That old ladder is liable to break. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x2)
- Drivers who park here are liable to a fine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x3)
- My little brother is liable to cry when he's tired. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x4)
- The shop was held liable for the broken window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x5)
- Ice makes the path liable to be slippery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x6)
- Children are less liable to catch it if they wash their hands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x7)
- Paper is liable to tear when it is wet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x8)
- In the country districts, order was kept on the plantations at night by the knowledge that they were liable to be visited at any moment by the patrols. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/#x9)

### Note

Formal register. Pronounced LY-uh-bl. Noun: liability. Trap: do not confuse with "libel" (writing untrue things that harm someone) or "likeable". "Liable for" = responsible; "liable to" = likely to.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «liable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/liable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«liable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/liable.html) on Mova free.