response

noun

re·​sponse ri-ˈspän(t)s 

1

: an act of responding

2

: something constituting a reply or a reaction: such as

a

: a verse, phrase, or word sung or said by the people or choir after or in reply to the officiant in a liturgical service

b

: the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation

c

: the output of a transducer or detecting device resulting from a given input

Synonyms

• answer
• reaction
• reply
• take

Choose the Right Synonym for response

answer, response, reply, rejoinder, retort mean something spoken, written, or done in return.

answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.

a response to the call for recruits

reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.

she made a cutting retort to her critics

Examples of response in a Sentence

He got a response to his letter.

I am writing in response to your letter of July 17.

When I told him my plan, I wasn't expecting such an enthusiastic response.

Her response to their decision was to threaten to quit her job.

When you knocked on the door, was there any response?

Recent Examples on the Web

The China Film Administration (CFA), the body that handles film releases and quotas in the country, released a statement on Thursday in response to a reporter’s question about whether the Trump administration’s increasing tariffs on China would impact imports of American films. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025

This response comes after the U.S. imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU in March. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025

The pause came hours after the European Union voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods, starting April 15, in response to Trump’s previously announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum—which remain in effect. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Apr. 2025

China on Wednesday raised tariffs on imports from the U.S. to 84%, the country's latest response in an escalating trade war with President Trump whose 104% tariff on Chinese goods also went into effect on Wednesday. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English & Latin; Middle English respounce, from Anglo-French respuns, respounce, from Latin responsum reply, from neuter of responsus, past participle of respondēre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing response

• autonomous sensory meridian response
• auto response
• call-and-response
• counter-response
• direct-response
• frequency response
• galvanic skin response
• give/make no response
• immune response

Rhymes for response

• naissance
• bons
• hans
• launce
• nonce
• sconce
• esperance
• nonchalance
• nonresponse
• renaissance

Kids Definition

response

noun

re·​sponse ri-ˈspän(t)s 

1

: an act or instance of replying : answer

2

: words said or sung by the people or choir in a religious service

3

: a reaction of a living thing to a stimulus

Medical Definition

response

noun

re·​sponse ri-ˈspän(t)s 

: the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation

a conditioned response