respond
Americanverb (used without object)
-
responds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
responded,
past participle, past
-
responding
present participle
-
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 ).
-
Bridge. to make a response.
verb (used with object)
-
responds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
responded,
past participle, past
-
responding
present participle
noun
-
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.
-
Ecclesiastical.
-
a short anthem chanted at intervals during the reading of a lection.
-
verb
-
to state or utter (something) in reply
-
(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
-
an archaic word for correspond
noun
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architect a pilaster or an engaged column that supports an arch or a lintel
-
Christianity a choral anthem chanted in response to a lesson read at a church service
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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respondsimple
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respondssimple
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have respondedperfect
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has respondedperfect
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am respondingprogressive
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are respondingprogressive
-
is respondingprogressive
-
have been respondingperfect progressive
-
has been respondingperfect progressive
Past
-
respondedsimple
-
had respondedperfect
-
was respondingprogressive
-
were respondingprogressive
-
had been respondingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Snap, the maker of Snapchat, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Marvell and Lumentum didn’t immediately respond to MarketWatch’s request for comment on the all-stock nature of the deal.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The deadline for federal prosecutors to respond to the appeal is Dec. 31.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
Together, they have fundamentally altered the region’s security dynamics, sharply increasing demands on the U.S. and its allies that must track these Chinese movements and be ready to respond.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
I opened my mouth to respond and then closed it.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
He said the question now is how Polanski and the party as a whole responds to the motion.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
The spiral's shape determines how it responds to this flow, similar to the difference between screws with right- or left-handed threads.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
Jonathan Steckloff, a student at Indiana University, responds to my note, “Yes, the Fed Can Kill the AI Boom”:
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
I’d love to do that job,’” responds Gladwell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
“I’m full,” Garrett responds, even though I know that’s a nearly impossible feat for him.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
The rule gives patients, families and carers the right to request a rapid review if they are worried that a patient's condition is getting worse and their concerns are not being responded to.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
But so far it hasn’t responded formally to Vance’s request to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and hasn’t agreed to a meeting, mediators between the two sides said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
It has not responded to AFP's request for a comment.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
In March, El-Sayed responded to an attack against a Detroit-area synagogue by saying that “hurt people hurt people,” which sounded to some like a justification for the violence.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
When Sue and Bruce told the crew about Dan and Brian, the pilot immediately responded that Dan had already been picked up.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
The entire process is designed to happen automatically, responding to changes in blood sugar as they occur.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
The patrol car was from the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division and was responding to an emergency call in the Van Nuys Division, Orozco said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
Mehndiratta said the company can enhance ADT’s core business by reducing false alarms, providing better information to security personnel responding to emergencies and improving the reliability of ADT’s systems.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
The ECB's governing council, which sets interest rates for the 21-member single currency area, faced criticism, in particular during the 2022 inflation surge, for responding too slowly.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Yet, other than the rapidity with which he was responding to Byrne’s moves, Bobby showed little emotion.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
