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

The Lightblaze Sneakers are functional and cool, combining responsive support with trending details, including suede, animal print, and metallic accents. — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026

By pairing a fast launch capability with a responsive imaging payload, the mission tested not only launch readiness but also the ability to gather and assess information quickly once on orbit. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

Of course, the Cloudmonster 3’s industry-leading specs — like responsive CloudTec cushioning, a propulsive plate, and a rocker made for smoother-than-smooth heel-to-toe transitions — can have that effect, too. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

Thus, the visual system for both white-tailed and fallow deer is particularly responsive to blue and green wavelengths. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

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