response

noun

re·​sponse ri-ˈspän(t)s 

1

: an act of responding

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

2

: something constituting a reply or a reaction: such as

a

: a written or spoken answer

They got a response to their letter.

I am writing in response to your letter of July 8.

She questioned him but he made/gave no response.

b

: something done as a reaction

Her response to their decision was to quit.

c

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

d

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

e

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

Synonyms of response

• reaction
• answer

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

In response to a public records act request for any complaints, grievances or allegations filed by Watson in the last 12 months, the city provided the September email exchange and said all other responsive records are exempt under attorney-client privilege and the catch-all exemption. —Mathew Miranda december 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

And though stress is ever-present, an acute stressor that activates the fight-or-flight response, brought on by an argument or difficult situation, could exacerbate the situation, creating a perfect storm. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025

The tense debate in the hearing centered on Carr’s reaction to the controversial comments Kimmel made during his late-night monologue in response to conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 17 Dec. 2025

On Wednesday morning, the company filed a formal response to Paramount’s hostile takeover bid launched last week. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 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
• in response to
• made/gave no 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