responsive

adjective

re·​spon·​sive ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 

1

: giving response : constituting a response : answering

a responsive glance

responsive aggression

2

: quick to respond or react appropriately or sympathetically : sensitive

3

: using responses

a responsive liturgy

responsively adverb

responsiveness noun

Did you know?

Responsive comes from the joining of Latin responsus with the suffix -ivus, which gave English -ive. That suffix changes verbs into adjectives, as in suggestive or corrosive. Responsus is a form of respondēre, which means "to answer" and is the source of English's respond. Responsive enters the language with the meaning "giving response" or "answering." Examples are "a responsive letter" or "a responsive glance." Nowadays, it variously describes people or things that immediately respond or react to something, such as "a responsive audience" or "a car with responsive steering."

Examples of responsive in a Sentence

The patient was not responsive to the treatment.

The store is very responsive to the needs of its customers.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, Code Avengers previews upcoming courses in beta form, like PHP quizzes in the responsive blog design course, so be on the lookout for future changes. —Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

The rest are detected later on, when the cancer cells may be less responsive to treatments like chemotherapy. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025

From the very first onboarding touchpoint, the experience must be seamless, responsive, and proactive. —Rachel Lyubovitzky, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Photodetectors are much less sensitive to green light than red, often only one-third to one-fifth as responsive. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing responsive

• hyper-responsive

Rhymes for responsive

• nonresponsive
• unresponsive

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Kids Definition

responsive

adjective

re·​spon·​sive ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 

1

: giving response : being an answer

a responsive smile

2

: quick to respond or react sympathetically : sensitive

responsive to the needs of the poor

responsively adverb

responsiveness noun

Medical Definition

responsive

adjective

re·​spon·​sive ri-ˈspän(t)-siv 

: making a response

especially : responding to treatment

pain responsive to opioids