response

American  

[ri-spons] / rɪˈspɒns /

noun

• responses
  plural

1. an answer or reply, as in words or in some action.

   Synonyms:

   rejoinder

2. Biology. any behavior of a living organism that results from an external or internal stimulus.

3. Ecclesiastical.

   1. a verse, sentence, phrase, or word said or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant.

   2. responsory.

4. Bridge. a bid based on an evaluation of one's hand relative to the previous bid of one's partner.

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response British  

/ rɪˈspɒns /

noun

1. the act of responding; reply or reaction

2. bridge a bid replying to a partner's bid or double

3. (usually plural) Christianity a short sentence or phrase recited or sung by the choir or congregation in reply to the officiant at a church service

4. electronics the ratio of the output to the input level, at a particular frequency, of a transmission line or electrical device

5. any pattern of glandular, muscular, or electrical reactions that arises from stimulation of the nervous system

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response Scientific  

/ rĭ-spŏns′ /

1. A reaction, as that of an organism or any of its parts, to a specific stimulus.

2. See more at classical conditioning

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Synonym Usage

See answer.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterresponse
  noun
• responseless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• responses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of response

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin respōnsum, noun use of neuter past participle of respondēre “to reply, answer”; replacing Middle English respounse, from Middle French respons, from Latin, as above; see respond

Explanation

A response is a reaction to a question, experience, or some other type of stimulus. If you cry at sad movies, you're having an emotional response to the drama that's taking place on the screen. A response can come in many forms, including an answer to a question, an emotional reaction, or a reply. If a teacher asks, "Who invented the phonograph?" She hopes her students will give her the response, "Why, Thomas Edison, of course!" When a parent tells a child not to cross the street when the light is red, he hopes the response will be compliance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

response responses

But regional leaders are also growing more frustrated by the lack of fundamental changes in Tehran’s behavior in response to diplomatic outreach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

“Nick’s sense of urgency is real, but it did not arise in a vacuum,” lawyers for the former manager of the trust wrote Thursday in a lengthy response to Reiner’s demand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

German automakers are ramping up cost-cutting measures in response to a sluggish European market, overcapacity in the EV sector, and the rising strength of Chinese rivals.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Although this response helps preserve that balance, maintaining it over long periods could have physiological effects.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

In the emergency response center, Superintendent Yoshida knew they were in serious trouble.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

In cancer research, they have been found to affect processes that include cancer metastasis and anti-tumor immune responses.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

So-called panic scams can work by triggering stress responses that shift victims into fight-or-flight, clouding rational thought, according to cybersecurity experts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

The responses showed the students valued safety in the island, together with its community, natural beauty and beaches.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The quake overwhelmed parts of the health system, turning the rescue effort into one of Colombia's largest disaster responses in years.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Surveys to determine what issues bothered parents and students were drawn up and mailed out, and the responses were processed in order to formulate an agenda.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• feedback
• reply
• return