responsive
Americanadjective
-
responding especially readily and sympathetically to appeals, efforts, influences, etc..
a responsive government.
- Synonyms:
- sympathetic, understanding, receptive
-
Physiology. acting in response, as to some stimulus.
-
characterized by the use of responses.
responsive worship.
adjective
-
reacting or replying quickly or favourably, as to a suggestion, initiative, etc
-
(of an organism) reacting to a stimulus
Other Word Forms
- hyperresponsive adjective
- hyperresponsively adverb
- hyperresponsiveness noun
- nonresponsive adjective
- nonresponsively adverb
- quasi-responsive adjective
- quasi-responsively adverb
- responsively adverb
- responsiveness noun
- unresponsive adjective
- unresponsively adverb
- unresponsiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of responsive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word respōnsīvus. See response, -ive
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.
NordVPN’s customer service, including 24/7 live chat, is responsive.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
"As ministers, our focus should be on reforms that would make the WTO more responsive to members and improve our ability to achieve outcomes that optimise our trading relationships."
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
Gallio and his team found that a key sensory protein involved in detecting harmful stimuli is much less responsive in snow flies than in other insects.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
The resolution also talks of strengthening “age-appropriate, culturally responsive instruction on consent, healthy relationships and recognizing abuse.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
Maggie sarcastically asked the “kind, dear spirits” to cooperate further, and “a hailstorm of responsive knocks” rained down as the audience roared, some in disbelief, others in approval.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
