response

[ri-spons]

noun

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.

response

/ 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

response

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

2. See more at classical conditioning

Other Word Forms

• responseless adjective
• counterresponse noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of response¹

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; respond

Word History and Origins

Origin of response¹

C14: from Latin rēsponsum answer, from rēspondēre to _respond

Synonym Study

See answer.

Example Sentences

In response, Mr Bown said: "All concerns raised are taken seriously and we would encourage patients and their loved ones to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service if they have any concerns at all."

From BBC

Sir Oliver Robbins, the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, asked Lord Mandelson about the emails on Tuesday, but did not receive a response until the following day.

From BBC

“Riefenstahl,” Andres Veiel’s scrupulous, powerful documentary about the documentarian’s efforts to rehabilitate her image and art — a biography folded into an investigation — amounts to one big “not so fast” of a response.

From Los Angeles Times

Some on the right say their recent fiery words are only a response to the hateful rhetoric of the left.

From Los Angeles Times

Associated Newspapers has not issued a statement in response to the BBC, but has previously denied the allegations, saying it has "filed a trenchant defence of its journalism against claims of phone-hacking".

From BBC

Related Words

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