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

Designed to combine practicality with advanced technology, the EX5 is equipped with a single electric motor on the front axle that delivers a peak output of 160 kW, providing smooth acceleration, responsive handling, and a comfortable driving experience. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 13 Dec. 2025

Her mother, Christine Sims, said her daughter is normally busy but reliably responsive. —Tania Francois, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

The recovery clog made out of one of Nike‘s more responsive foams sold out remarkably quickly for its category of footwear, and the subsequent release of a slide variant was also well received. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Dec. 2025

The production sound mixer had cued up separate audio files for each of Hind’s lines so the conversations with the actors would be responsive. —E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 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