answer to
Work under someone
Answer to means to be accountable or subordinate to someone in a hierarchy.
I answer to the regional manager, not the local supervisor.
It also means to match or correspond to a description: The suspect answers to the witness's account.
In a more confrontational sense, if someone must answer to you, they owe you an explanation or must face consequences: You'll answer to me if anything happens to her.
- replyVerbal or written answer
- answerableLiable to account
- explanationStatement making something clear
- accountableObligated to explain oneself
- fitProper or healthy
held responsible · response · the call · solution · superior · subordinate · stewardship · obligation · overseer · boss · manager · chain of command · pecking order · report to · duty · obey · liability · acknowledge
- Hierarchy termspecking order, junior, chain of command, secondary, totem pole
answer tosupervise
Direct and watch others
manage · oversee · command · boss around · direct
answer tohold accountable
Require someone to justify actions
call to account · question · interrogate · audit · review