respond

1 of 2

verb

re·​spond ri-ˈspänd 

responded; responding; responds

intransitive verb

1

: to say something in return : make an answer

respond to criticism

2

a

: to react in response

responded to a call for help

b

: to show favorable reaction

respond to surgery

3

: to be answerable

respond in damages

transitive verb

: reply

responder

ri-ˈspän-dər 

noun

respond

2 of 2

noun

: an engaged pillar supporting an arch or closing a colonnade or arcade

Synonyms

Verb

• react
• reply

Examples of respond in a Sentence

Verb

She hasn't yet responded to my letter.

My mother responded to my request with a firm no.

The teacher asked a question, but the student didn't respond.

“Are you ready?” he asked. “No,” she responded.

When I asked him what he was doing, he responded that it was none of my business.

Police quickly responded to the call for help.

She responded to their decision by threatening to quit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

System responds when terrible things happen to kids Deep inside Milwaukee County’s Criminal Justice Facility, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Torbenson sits behind a desk surrounded by pictures of family, house plants and a pile of court documents, each telling a sad story involving a child. —John Diedrich, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Trump’s campaign, backed by Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, and other major tech companies didn’t respond to requests for comment. —Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

Stuck between the oppressive security system and a darkening national political situation, the two respond in contrasting ways. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024

When a big crisis does hit, remember that systemic risks are only half the story—the other half is how the economy and policy respond. —Kristine Gill, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of Middle English respounden, from Anglo-French respundre, from Latin respondēre to promise in return, answer, from re- + spondēre to promise — more at spouse

Noun

Middle English respounde, literally, reply, from Anglo-French respuns, respunt response

First Known Use

Verb

1572, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

respond

verb

re·​spond

ri-ˈspänd

1

: to say something in return : make an answer

2

a

: to react in response

note how the animal's eyes respond to light

b

: to have a favorable reaction

the patient is responding to treatment

Medical Definition

respond

intransitive verb

re·​spond ri-ˈspänd 

1

: to react in response

2

: to show favorable reaction

respond to chemotherapy