respond

[ri-spond]

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verb (used without object)

to reply or answer in words: to respond briefly to a question.

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.

to correspond (usually followed by to).

Bridge. to make a response.

verb (used with object)

to say in answer; reply.

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.
responsory.
response.

Origin of respond

1350–1400; (noun) Middle English: responsory < Old French, derivative of respondre to respond < Latin respondēre to promise in return, reply, answer, equivalent to re- re- + spondēre to pledge, promise (see sponsor); (v.) < Latin respondēre

Related formso·ver·re·spond, verbun·re·spond·ing, adjective

Synonyms for respond

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1. rejoin. 2. rise, react, reply.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for responded

return, acknowledge, counter, react, behave, answer, reply, rejoin, reciprocate, retort, feedback

Examples from the Web for responded

Contemporary Examples of responded

Leapolitan responded by saying, “hopefully youll [sic] bite into a poison apple.”
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem
David Levesley
January 9, 2015
I was a little mystified at how benignly he responded to my questions about his business activities.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003
Vicky Ward
January 7, 2015
When he has called the police in the past, they have not responded, or responded “mad late.”
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown
Batya Ungar-Sargon
January 1, 2015
The U.S. responded to security threats with cool heads and plenty of expertise in WWII and the Cold War.
Why Did We Panic After 9/11 and Ignore All We Knew About Responding to Security Threats?
Deborah Pearlstein
December 18, 2014
Roth responded to the criticism by saying that “Americans do not even know that this country exists.”
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies
Asawin Suebsaeng
December 17, 2014

Historical Examples of responded

This was responded to by a roar of satisfaction from the crowd below.
Harriet, The Moses of Her People
Sarah H. Bradford
"That is precisely what I wish them to be," responded Grace, in all earnestness.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
"It would not be like him," responded Hester, with self-accusation.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
Usually he had some cheerful banter for Tillie, to which she responded in kind.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
"Then give me a baton," she responded, springing to her feet.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark

British Dictionary definitions for responded

respond

verb

to state or utter (something) in reply

(intr) to act in reply; reactto respond by issuing an invitation

(intr foll by to) to react favourablythis 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

Derived Formsrespondence or respondency, nounresponder, noun

Word Origin for respond

C14: from Old French respondre, from Latin rēspondēre to return like for like, from re- + spondēre to pledge; see spouse, sponsor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for responded

respond

c.1300, respound, from Old French respondere "respond, correspond," from Latin respondere "respond, answer to, promise in return," from re- "back" (see re-) + spondere "to pledge" (see spondee). Modern spelling and pronunciation is from c.1600. Related: Responded; responding.