echo

noun (1)

\ ˈe-(ˌ)kō

plural echoes also echos

Definition of echo

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves

b : the sound due to such reflection

2a : a repetition or imitation of another : reflection

b : repercussion, result

c : trace, vestige

d : response

3 : one who closely imitates or repeats another's words, ideas, or acts

4 : a soft repetition of a musical phrase

5a : the repetition of a received radio signal due especially to reflection of part of the wave from an ionized layer of the atmosphere

b(1) : the reflection of transmitted radar signals by an object

(2) : the visual indication of this reflection on a radarscope

echo

verb

echoed; echoing\ ˈe-(ˌ)kō-iŋ

, ˈe-kə-wiŋ \

Definition of echo (Entry 2 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to resound with echoes

2 : to produce an echo

transitive verb

1a : repeat, imitate children echoing their teacher's words

b : to restate in support or agreement his successor echoed his opinion

c : to be reminiscent of : evoke music that echoes an earlier time

2 : to send back (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves

Echo

noun (2)

\ ˈe-(ˌ)kō

Definition of Echo (Entry 3 of 4)

: a nymph in Greek mythology who pines away for love of Narcissus until nothing is left of her but her voice

Echo

communications code word

Definition of Echo (Entry 4 of 4)

—used as a code word for the letter e

Other Words from echo Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about echo

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Examples of echo in a Sentence

Noun (1)

We shouted into the canyon and listened to the echo of our voices. the echo of footsteps in the hall His work contains echoes of older and greater poets. The book's title is an echo of a line from an old folk song. The crime is a chilling echo of the murders that shocked the city two years ago.

Verb

The music echoed through the church. Laughter echoed across the lake. Their voices echoed in the hall. His warnings are echoed by many other experts in the field. “It's in Rome.” “In Rome?” she echoed. Others have echoed her criticisms. The book's title echoes a line from an old folk song. The crime echoes last year's shocking murders.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Estes sees echoes of the mortgage mess of 2007, when banks used financial engineering to create and circulate gimmicky debt investments. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "The Sucker at the Token Table: Who Loses in the ICO Bust," 12 May 2018 The calls carry echoes of Ukraine’s policies following mass protests against Russia in 2014 that led to the ouster of the pro-Russian then-President Viktor Yanukovych. — Thomas Grove, WSJ, "Belarus in Talks to Boost U.S. Presence," 14 Jan. 2019 There are fascinating echoes with the current moment, and of course with these 2017 films. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Lesson of 'Mudbound,' Miller and 'Darkest Hour': The future favors the rest of us," 26 Jan. 2018 But echoes of the crime still follow the McNair family. — David Crary, The Seattle Times, "Bomb scare rattles those touched by past political violence," 27 Oct. 2018 Like a flag, the towering beehive symbolizes Winehouse’s performative side, an echo of other images peppered throughout of some of her most iconic performances (in good and bad ways) for which Wood was present. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Amy Winehouse Is Finally Free in a New Book of Photographs," 10 Aug. 2018 The echoes of the burst of illnesses suffered by US diplomats in Cuba may add to those complications. — Chris Buckley And Gardiner Harris, BostonGlobe.com, "American in China falls ill after ‘abnormal’ sounds," 23 May 2018 The echoes of his decisions as chief justice still reverberate in our era. — Kepler’s Books, San Francisco Chronicle, "Recommendations from Kepler’s Books," 12 Apr. 2018 Against the flux of time, these wines are an echo of the land, with each custodian of the vineyards not necessarily making the same wine from decade to decade, but searching for a similarly elusive result: the essence of Valtellina. — Christopher Ross, WSJ, "The Hidden Valley in the Italian Alps Where Winemakers Are Working Against Nature," 15 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The ceiling of each volume echos the shape of its roof. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Modern Japanese house in the woods looks like fallen leaves," 14 Dec. 2018 The point echoed concerns from human rights groups, who sent an open letter to Pichai about Dragonfly yesterday. — Colin Lecher, The Verge, "What Google’s CEO told Congress about China — and what he didn’t," 12 Dec. 2018 New research from the University of Sussex in England echoes this, suggesting that smiling is more an act of engagement with people than an expression of inner joy. — Loren Savini, Allure, "Does Smiling Cause Wrinkles? No, and "Resting Bitch Face" Doesn't Prevent Them," 10 Oct. 2018 Conway's rhetoric echoes Hillary Clinton's 1998 description of allegations that her husband, President Bill Clinton, had had affairs. — Andrew O'reilly, Fox News, "Hundreds of protesters descend on Capitol Hill amid new Kavanaugh allegations," 24 Sep. 2018 That echoes a recent Washington Post report, which said Twitter suspended 70 million accounts in May and June. — Alyssa Newcomb /, NBC News, "Twitter is purging millions of fake accounts — and investors are spooked," 9 July 2018 Kauffman cited the changing times and the fact that a revival could only disappoint, a sentiment echoed by other cast members including Jennifer Aniston. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "We're Definitely Never Ever Getting a 'Friends' Revival, and This Is Why," 13 Mar. 2019 His misgivings about the business echoed those of other former employees contacted by The Washington Post. — Peter Whoriskey, courant.com, "Unsolicited checks can be a lifeline and an albatross," 2 July 2018 The accusations echo those in a major enforcement case against Navient that was started by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last year, in the final days of President Obama’s administration. — Stacy Cowley, New York Times, "California Will Be Fourth State to Sue Navient Over Student Loans," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'echo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of echo

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1595, in the meaning defined above

Communications code word

1952, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for echo

Noun (1)

Middle English ecco, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French echo, from Latin, from Greek ēchō; akin to Latin vagire to wail, Greek ēchē sound

Noun (2)

Greek Ēchō

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