call-and-response

American  

[kawl-uhn-ri-spons] / ˈkɔl ən rɪˈspɒns /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a style of singing in which a melody sung by one singer is responded to or echoed by one or more singers.

2. noting or pertaining to rapid, spontaneous verbal and nonverbal interaction between speaker and listener, in which all statements are punctuated by expressions from the listener.

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noun

1. call-and-response singing.

2. call-and-response interaction between speaker and listener.

call-and-response British  

noun

1. a form of interaction between a speaker and one or more listeners, in which every utterance of the speaker elicits a verbal or non-verbal response from the listener or listeners

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Etymology

Origin of call-and-response

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

She enjoyed Boney M. and their call-and-response style and often includes audience interaction in her own work.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The actor picked on Camila Cabello, Anna Kendrick, Colman Domingo, James McAvoy and Celia Imrie for the call-and-response "Da da-da!" bits after the chorus.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

The French audience needed only seconds of the latter’s familiar call-and-response from piano and horns to feel moved to applaud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

On one track, “Half Fling,” Wood and Monaghan made “high-pitched, Muppet call-and-response voices,” says Wood.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

I don’t catch on to the call-and-response until it’s already hit “ockmorton.”

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein