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.

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

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Echo ² British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. communications code word for the letter e

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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

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

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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.

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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”

Explanation

An echo is a repetition or imitation of sound. When sound waves hit a hard surface they might reflect, making the sound bounce and repeat. If you agree with someone, you might echo his or her statement. Poet Don Marquis said, “Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.” The word echo came from the Greek word for "sound." In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who could only repeat the last words of others. You were frightened when you thought someone was following you, until you realized you were only hearing the echo of your own footsteps.

Example Sentences

But, like DeLorean, some of these entrepreneurs have made a lasting impact on the car business—creating innovations that echo in vehicles on the road today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

So much of what we experience today is an echo of our formative years.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

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

Their verdict will echo through thousands of other pending lawsuits, reshaping the legal landscape for some of the world’s most powerful companies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Beside her, she saw the shadows and the shimmering echo of stagehands and wardrobe attendants and actors hurrying past her, laughing and chattering in Yiddish.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

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