response

noun

re·sponse | \ ri-ˈspän(t)s

Definition of response

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 Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about response

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Synonyms for response

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

Since the earliest days of the Mercury program, NASA has been gleaning medical data from its astronauts by studying their physiological responses to spaceflight. — National Geographic, "Here’s why women may be the best suited for spaceflight," 17 June 2019 During a 2017 outbreak, Children’s Minnesota, a hospital system in the Twin Cities, spent $300,000 on their emergency response. — Kaiser Health News, oregonlive.com, "Measles outbreaks require meticulous detective work to halt the spread," 15 June 2019 Like other communities, Blue Island has mutual aid agreements with other departments for emergency medical responses, but that nearby communities also are stretched thin as far as staffing and vehicles. — Mike Nolan, Daily Southtown, "Forum on Blue Island hospital's possible closing generates more questions than answers," 14 June 2019 Both America and Iran seem to be calibrating their response to each other’s actions. — The Economist, "Iran is blowing up ships in the Gulf, says America," 14 June 2019 Here are my responses in what could very well be the last Warriors mailbag of the season: @grntman13: Curry dropping 50 or 60? — Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Warriors mailbag: What must Golden State do to win Game 6?," 13 June 2019 But for Magers and countless others with chronic pain, the response to those 2016 CDC guidelines meant trouble. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Did the crackdown on opioid prescriptions go too far? Here's why doctors are reconsidering," 10 June 2019 Men who hand-wrote letters home and waited weeks for a response. — Christina Ruffini, CBS News, "The last of the best: A reporter reflects on the D-Day anniversary," 7 June 2019 As part of its response, the district in April announced the beginning of community conversations on issues of race and diversity. — Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Greendale High School officials take down a student's art piece on racism, saying it could create a disruption," 7 June 2019

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