answer to
verb1
To be accountable or responsible to; to account to; to report to.
- I'm above you in the hierarchy, Jim, so you should be answering to me.
- Shepard: Do you know anything about Spectres? Avina: The term Spectre is derived from the branch of Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. Each Sepctre agent is hand-picked by the Council. Avina: Their primary role is preserving galactic stability and resolving volatile situations that cannot be handled through normal political channels. Avina: In this role, they are granted extraterritorial rights and jurisdictions. Spectres answer to no law or authority except the Council itself.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Presidium Tourism Terminal I:
2
To justify oneself to (someone). (usually with have to)
- You're going to have to answer to all of these charges to my satisfaction.
- You can crush us / You can bruise us / But you'll have to answer to / Oh, the guns of Brixton1979, Paul Simonon, “The Guns of Brixton”, performed by The Clash:
3
To respond to (a name); to treat as one's own name.
- She's answered to Katie her entire life.
- Related terms
- answer for