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

The claim has echoes of the false birther conspiracy that was spread about President Barack Obama — and some of the same people involved in spreading that conspiracy are involved in circulating the false claims about Harris. — Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, "Attacks on Harris were percolating before Trump Jr. picked them up," 1 July 2019 This is an all-new original story that has narrative echoes of the Civil War comic book arc. — Nick Romano, EW.com, "Marvel's Avengers videogame revealed: Watch the trailer," 11 June 2019 Some have found an echo of the opposition of certain states to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. — Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, "When Hamlet Starts Showing Up in Federal Court," 13 June 2018 The researchers found the echo, but at a lower statistical significance than before. — Quanta Magazine, "Black Hole Echoes Would Reveal Break With Einstein’s Theory," 22 Mar. 2018 The Cypress sound was an explosion of screaming sirens, eerie echoes, and slowed-down funk. — Michael Gonzales, Longreads, "It’s Like That: The Makings of a Hip-Hop Writer," 10 June 2019 Its lidar instrument works like radar but with light instead of radio waves: Twin lasers emit 500,000 pulses of light per second and record the echoes, revealing the location and three-dimensional shape of every object beneath the plane. — Paul Tullis, New York Times, "To Map a Coral Reef, Peel Back the Seawater," 10 June 2019 Kolob Canyons may be smaller than Zion Canyon, some 40 miles to the south, but this wilderness delivers countless adventures in the form of empty hiking trails and 2,000-foot cliff walls with hardly anyone to hear their own echoes. — Joe Yogerst, National Geographic, "Everything to know about Zion National Park," 9 May 2019 Yet these times, for all of their historic echoes, are different. — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, "The Death of the Public Square," 6 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Manager Dave Roberts echoed those sentiments, passing this weekend off as a small bump in the road. — Jack Harris, latimes.com, "Dodgers are heading into All-Star break on three-game losing streak," 7 July 2019 The family's attorney, former Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, echoed that in a statement, calling it an attempt to undermine Ames' credibility. — Brieanna J. Frank, azcentral, "Phoenix couple in viral police video criticizes release of Tempe DUI video," 4 July 2019 However, with his newfound desire to leave now being echoed by both teammates and manager Manuel Pellegrini, that energy has seemingly run out. — SI.com, "West Ham Agree to Sell Marko Arnautovic for £22m Despite Calling it a 'Terrible Deal'," 4 July 2019 Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who is from Puerto Rico, echoed the sentiment. — Motez Bishara, CNN, "MLB London Series: Yankees crush Red Sox as league comes out winning," 1 July 2019 The governor echoed that sentiment in New Hampshire on Thursday. — Nicole Sganga, Adam Brewster, CBS News, "Excluded from debate, Steve Bullock tries his luck in New Hampshire and Iowa," 27 June 2019 Lee echoed that in an interview with the Tribune, saying that one of the key things across the country in reducing crime is establishing law enforcement and communities as partners. — Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot appoints new deputy mayor of public safety: ‘We have to have a basic level of safety’," 25 June 2019 In the Axios interview, Kushner echoed Balfour’s words, repeatedly excluding Palestinians from political and national rights. — Rashid Khalidi, The New York Review of Books, "The Neocolonial Arrogance of the Kushner Plan," 12 June 2019 In the Top Workplaces survey, employees echoed Flickner’s views. — Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Top Workplaces Cincinnati: HealthWorks, Queen City Homecare and Our Lady lead small division," 5 June 2019

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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