echo

American  

[ek-oh] / ˈɛk oʊ /

noun

plural

echoes

1. a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound waves from a wall, mountain, or other obstructing surface.

2. a sound heard again near its source after being reflected.

3. any repetition or close imitation, as of the ideas or opinions of another.

4. a person who reflects or imitates another.

5. a sympathetic or identical response, as to sentiments expressed.

6. a lingering trace or effect.

7. (initial capital letter) a mountain nymph who pined away for love of the beautiful youth Narcissus until only her voice remained.

8. Cards. the play of a high card and then a low card in the suit led by one's partner as a signal to continue leading the suit, as in bridge, or to lead a trump, as in whist.

9. Electronics. the reflection of a radio wave, as in radar or the like.

10. (initial capital letter) one of an early series of inflatable passive communications satellites.

11. a word used in communications to represent the letter E.

---

verb (used without object)

echoed, echoing

1. to emit an echo; resound with an echo.

   The hall echoed with cheers.

   Synonyms:

   reverberate, ring

2. to be repeated by or as by an echo.

   Shouts echoed through the street.

   Synonyms:

   reverberate, ring

verb (used with object)

echoed, echoing

1. to repeat by or as by an echo; emit an echo of.

   The hall echoes the faintest sounds.

2. to repeat or imitate the words, sentiments, etc., of (a person).

3. to repeat or imitate (words, sentiments, etc.).

Echo ¹ British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. either of two US passive communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 1960

---

Echo ² British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. communications code word for the letter e

---

echo ³ British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium, esp a solid object

   2. the sound so reflected

2. a repetition or imitation, esp an unoriginal reproduction of another's opinions

3. something that evokes memories, esp of a particular style or era

4. (sometimes plural) an effect that continues after the original cause has disappeared; repercussion

   the echoes of the French Revolution

5. a person who copies another, esp one who obsequiously agrees with another's opinions

6. 1. the signal reflected by a radar target

   2. the trace produced by such a signal on a radar screen

7. the repetition of certain sounds or syllables in a verse line

8. the quiet repetition of a musical phrase

9. Also called: echo organ.   echo stop.  a manual or stop on an organ that controls a set of quiet pipes that give the illusion of sounding at a distance

10. an electronic effect in recorded music that adds vibration or resonance

---

verb

1. to resound or cause to resound with an echo

   the cave echoed their shouts

2. (intr) (of sounds) to repeat or resound by echoes; reverberate

3. (tr) (of persons) to repeat (words, opinions, etc), in imitation, agreement, or flattery

4. (tr) (of things) to resemble or imitate (another style, earlier model, etc)

5. (tr) (of a computer) to display (a character) on the screen of a visual display unit as a response to receiving that character from a keyboard entry

Echo ⁴ British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. Greek myth a nymph who, spurned by Narcissus, pined away until only her voice remained

---

echo Scientific  

/ ĕk′ō /

1. A repeated sound that is caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface. The sound is heard more than once because of the time difference between the initial production of the sound waves and their return from the reflecting surface.

2. A wave that carries a signal and is reflected. Echoes of radio signals (carried by electromagnetic waves) are used in radar to detect the location or velocity of distant objects.

---

Other Word Forms

• echo-like adjective
• echoer noun
• echoing adjective
• echoless adjective
• outecho verb (used with object)
• subecho noun
• unechoed adjective
• unechoing adjective

Etymology

Origin of echo

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ecco, from Latin ēchō, from Greek, akin to ēchḗ “sound”

Example Sentences

This week’s loss is a bit of an echo of the 15% drop the fund experienced last year in the first week of April.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

This decision will find an echo in “King Lear”; Lear, too, cites his age when giving the power to rule his kingdom to his daughters, and both characters live to rue their choices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“This echo chamber was used to deceive you.”

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

On Wednesday, as the final speeches echo around the chamber at Holyrood, a record number of MSPs will be preparing to say goodbye.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

I keep my head buried in Dad’s shirt as the clicks of Javier’s pod being latched echo in the room.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• mirror
• parallel
• recall
• reflect
• reiterate
• resound
• respond
• reverberate
• ring