echo

noun (1)

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\ 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 The back-and-forth is an echo from another era — when school systems across the country churned with debates about integration — and a reflection of a national trend to factor socioeconomic status into the setting of school boundaries. — Donna St. George, Washington Post, "Poverty, wealth, fairness: Where should students go to school?," 8 Mar. 2020 The perfect human figure that the sculptor Praxiteles and other of his contemporaries sought to create eight centuries after Homer was both an echo of the poet’s imagination and a wellspring of the Renaissance. — Seth Cropsey, National Review, "Oxford Should Keep Homer and Virgil on the Syllabus," 28 Feb. 2020 The floor was stone, and if the cat made noise in the air there were echoes. — Adam Levin, The New Yorker, "Kid Positive," 24 Feb. 2020 And there’s an echo of that for the rest of the performance. — Nina Metz, chicagotribune.com, "My worst moment: 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine's' Stephanie Beatriz on the night everything went wrong onstage," 28 Mar. 2018 In an echo of the far-reaching measures already imposed in Italy, people will be allowed to leave their homes only to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to hospitals and banks, or take trips related to the care of the young and the elderly. — Time, "France and Spain to Follow Italy Into Lockdown as Coronavirus Cases Soar," 14 Mar. 2020 In an echo of public reaction in China, critics of the Iranian regime in and outside of the country are questioning whether officials in Tehran have given the public a full and accurate picture of the outbreak. — NBC News, "Why is Iran's reported mortality rate for coronavirus higher than in other countries?," 25 Feb. 2020 In an echo of last year’s desperation move, the 92nd annual Oscars are again going host-less. — oregonlive, "Will Netflix invade the weirdly early 2020 Oscars?," 5 Feb. 2020 In an echo of 2016, Bernie Sanders, a factional leftist, leads the polls in the first states to vote. — The Economist, "The Democratic primary Under ranked-choice voting, left-wing purism would aid Joe Biden," 30 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Lastly, the best way to help health-care workers in this pandemic is to stay home, said Dr. Grant, a point echoed by doctors, nurses and medical staff across the nation. — Michelle Ma, WSJ, "How You Can Donate Protective Equipment to Help Hospitals Fight Coronavirus," 27 Mar. 2020 The album feels otherworldly: the sound engineers have sprinkled several songs with dub, distinct space-age effects that echo, reverb, and swirl. — The New Yorker, "Quarantine Culture Recommendations: “Troop Beverly Hills,” Japanese Industrial Music, and Jah9," 27 Mar. 2020 The view that political opponents of Trump are using the coronavirus pandemic for partisan ends has been echoed elsewhere in the media as well as by the president and his allies. — Matthew Brown, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Coronavirus did not spread in the US because of an anti-Trump conspiracy," 17 Mar. 2020 Tubbs, Samra, and Foster have heard this echoed by recipients. — Bryce Covert, The New Republic, "Can $500 a Month Change Your Life?," 11 Mar. 2020 Like the clothes, the moves are far less balletic and much more rebellious—a welcome change that echoes the shift in time. — Maxwell Losgar, Marie Claire, "Costume Designer An D’Huys on Creating West Side Story’s Contemporary Look," 6 Mar. 2020 But most striking are the vertical air vents that echo the Mustang-like taillights. — Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, "2021 Kia Sorento Revealed with Upscale Interior," 17 Feb. 2020 Only when Charlie and Nicole remember to be human at the end of their fight by embracing and apologizing does Newman’s score – in a classical style that echoes the opening – return. — Michael Slowik, The Conversation, "The secret to the success of two Oscar-nominated scores," 6 Feb. 2020 That same day, NHTSA released new guidelines that echoed the pediatrician group’s recommendations. — Daniela Porat, ProPublica, "Evenflo, Maker of the “Big Kid” Booster Seat, Put Profits Over Child Safety," 6 Feb. 2020

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.