respond
Americanverb (used without object)
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to reply or answer in words.
to respond briefly to a question.
- Synonyms:
- rejoin
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to make a return by some action as if in answer.
to respond generously to a charity drive.
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to react favorably.
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Physiology. to exhibit some action or effect as if in answer; react.
Nerves respond to a stimulus.
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to correspond (usually followed byto ).
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Bridge. to make a response.
verb (used with object)
noun
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Architecture. a half pier, pilaster, or the like projecting from a wall as a support for a lintel or an arch, the other side of which is supported on a free-standing pier or column.
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Ecclesiastical.
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a short anthem chanted at intervals during the reading of a lection.
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verb
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to state or utter (something) in reply
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(intr) to act in reply; react
to respond by issuing an invitation
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to react favourably
this patient will respond to treatment
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an archaic word for correspond
noun
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architect a pilaster or an engaged column that supports an arch or a lintel
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Christianity a choral anthem chanted in response to a lesson read at a church service
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has respondedperfect 3rd person singular
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have respondedperfect
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has been respondingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am respondingprogressive 1st person singular
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are respondingprogressive
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is respondingprogressive 3rd person singular
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respondssingular 3rd person
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have been respondingperfect progressive
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respondingparticiple
Past
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had respondedperfect
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was respondingprogressive singular
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were respondingprogressive plural
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had been respondingperfect progressive
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respondedparticiple
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respondedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of respond
First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) from Latin respondēre “to promise in return, reply, answer,” from re- re- + spondēre “to pledge, promise”; (for the noun) Middle English: “responsory,” from Old French, derivative of respondre “to reply,” from Latin respondēre
Explanation
Invited to a great party? You might respond by shouting "Hooray!" and then letting your friend know you'll be there. To respond is to react or reply. Fireman, police, and EMTs are known as first responders. This is because they are the first people to respond to an emergency. If you get into an accident, an EMT might check your reflexes to see how they respond.
Vocabulary lists containing respond
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"My Favorite Chaperone," Vocabulary from the short story
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 81-90
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scientists just don’t know how the trees will respond to or recover from the fire, because the island has so rarely dealt with flames, he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Justice’s senate office did not respond to questions.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
You will probably need to pay a plumber to ensure the cistern refills properly, but whether that money should go to the same company depends largely on how they respond now.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
Boots didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Hearing that from my dad—I don’t know how to respond.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
