Meaning & use
grave responsibility
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Meaning
phrasecountableformal
A very serious duty that requires careful and responsible action.
Grammar: Often used with 'a' or 'the': a grave responsibility; the grave responsibility of caring for others.
Patterns
- a grave responsibility
- the grave responsibility of doing something
- have a grave responsibility to do something
Doctors have a grave responsibility to protect their patients' health.
The court said the company had a grave responsibility to keep its workers safe.
She felt the grave responsibility of caring for her elderly parents.
Common combinations
- a grave responsibility
- Leading the team is a grave responsibility.
- have a grave responsibility
- Parents have a grave responsibility to teach their children right from wrong.
- bear a grave responsibility
- The judge bears a grave responsibility when deciding a person's future.
- a grave responsibility to do something
- We all have a grave responsibility to protect the environment.
- take on a grave responsibility
- He took on a grave responsibility when he agreed to manage the project.
Synonyms and how they differ
- serious duty
- Similar meaning, but 'serious duty' is less formal and can describe any important task, while 'grave responsibility' suggests a more solemn or weighty obligation.
- heavy responsibility
- Also means a difficult duty, but 'heavy' emphasizes the burden, while 'grave' emphasizes the seriousness and possible consequences.
- solemn obligation
- Very close in meaning, but 'solemn obligation' is even more formal and often used in legal or religious contexts.
Opposites
Commonly confused: grave responsibility or grave? grave responsibility or responsibility?
grave responsibility vs grave
As a noun, 'grave' means a burial place. As an adjective, it means very serious. In this phrase, 'grave' is the adjective.
grave responsibility vs responsibility
This is the noun for a duty. 'Grave responsibility' is a stronger, more formal way to say 'serious responsibility'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'grave responsibility' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 uses 'grave responsibility' to mean a serious duty, which is correct. Option 0 confuses 'grave' (burial place) with the adjective. Option 2 also confuses the noun 'grave' with the phrase. Option 3 uses 'grave responsibility' incorrectly because laughing at a mistake is not a serious duty.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grave responsibility”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.