Response Meaning and Definition

Response

Response

Pronunciation

/ˈrɪs.pən.s/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A reaction to a situation, event, or stimulus, often characterized by a verbal or non-verbal response.

Examples

  • The company’s response to the crisis was swift and effective.
  • Her response to the joke was laughter and applause.

Synonyms

  • Action
  • Reaction
  • Reply

Antonyms

  • Inaction
  • Indifference

Etymology

The word “Response” comes from the Old French “response,” derived from the Latin “responsio,” meaning “answering” or “reply.” It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe a reaction to a stimulus.

Usage Notes

Response is often used to describe a reaction to a situation, event, or stimulus, but it can also be used more broadly to describe any reaction or answer to a question or challenge.

Cultural References

Response has been featured in various cultural references, including films, literature, and music. For example, the phrase “response” is often used in pop culture to describe a reaction to a situation, event, or stimulus.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

In addition to being used as a noun, “response” can also be used in idiomatic expressions such as “response time,” “response rate,” and “response to stress.”

Related Words or Phrases

  • Reaction
  • Response time
  • Response rate

Collocations

  • A response to an email
  • A response to a crime
  • A response to a crisis

Frequency of Use

According to the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), “response” is used approximately 2.4 times per million words in spoken and written English.

Common Misspellings

  • Responce
  • Respone

Related Words