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
-
to make a return by some action as if in answer.
to respond generously to a charity drive.
-
to react favorably.
-
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
-
to react favourably
this patient will respond to treatment
-
an archaic word for correspond
noun
-
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:
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
China’s Ministry of Defense didn’t respond to a request for comment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Rezaei noted what he described as a positive change in "tone" from the US side but said he had yet to respond.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
“He already is,” I heard Mrs. Brisbane respond.
From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney
He said the question now is how Polanski and the party as a whole responds to the motion.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
I’d love to do that job,’” responds Gladwell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
These conditions develop when the immune system responds abnormally, contributing to inflammation and damage in the intestines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
“A U.N. that responds by asking for more of the same will not be heard,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
The old man responds, “Well then, bienvenidas, welcome, niñas. It’s been a while since we’ve had any visitors here in the countryside.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
The survey showed that manufacturers responded by increasing their own charges to a greater degree, with inflation accelerating for a second month in a row to the fastest pace in more than four years.
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
Police and paramedics responded, and Mann was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
So Roosevelt responded by leading everyone in three cheers for Brazil, and then for Rondon, and Lyra, and the doctor, and finally the camaradas.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
The entire process is designed to happen automatically, responding to changes in blood sugar as they occur.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
“He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment,” Murphy’s chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, said in a statement.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
“We are responding with stricter return requirements for our investments, a strategic review of our development business, and a clear focus on cash-flow protection and balance-sheet strength,” Vonovia Chief Executive Luka Mucic said.
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
The animal just stared at him, not responding.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
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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.
