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response

[ri-spons] / rɪˈspɒns /


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for response?
A response is a reply or an answer—something said or done after someone else has said or done something. Like response, reply and answer can be used in the context of verbal responses (such as in speech or writing) as well as actions. The word acknowledgement refers to a response that simply acknowledges an initial message or action (as opposed to one that consists of new information or an action on the part of the one responding). Some responses come in the form of feedback. A reply to a comment—especially a quick and witty reply—is sometimes called a comeback, retort, rejoinder, or riposte. A response to an invitation is popularly called an RSVP, an abbreviation of the French phrase répondez s'il vous plaît, meaning “please respond.” In military and sports contexts, the word response is sometimes used as a general way of referring to a counterattack or counterstroke.
What is a more formal word for response?
Response is perhaps slightly more formal than its synonyms answer and reply, but there isn’t a more formal word that is commonly used. The more formal word rejoinder is sometimes used in specific legal contexts. A formal (as in an official) response is sometimes called a formal reply or an official reply.
What is the opposite (antonym) of response?
The opposite of a response is a nonresponse—when someone doesn’t reply or answer at all. The term lack of response is often used. In another sense, the opposite of a response could be thought of as the initial question, statement, comment, email, etc.—since this is what the response responds to.
Is it responce or response?
Response is spelled with an s, which you can also see in the related words responsive, responsible, and responsibility.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Qantas’s response to the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted Middle East routes and hit demand for travel to the region and to the U.S., also included redeploying 16,000 seats to European routes in the June quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 27, 2026

In his response, Lowell said signing a primary-mortgage agreement on the Georgia property was an entirely inadvertent oversight.

From MarketWatch Aug. 27, 2026

Nepal's Prime Minister said "the entire nation has been left shocked and deeply distressed" and that officials would coordinate with China on the response.

From BBC Aug. 26, 2026

As new 50-percent US tariffs took effect on $20 billion in Canadian goods Saturday, Ottawa set out a "dollar-for-dollar" response Tuesday.

From Barron's Aug. 26, 2026

It was the proper response, mind you, quite customary to the particular warrior clan to which Major Puff belonged.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Girls tend to be more adept at mimicking social responses like eye contact and reciprocal play.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 26, 2026

But among all these responses, Katie Miller’s was particularly galling and tone-deaf.

From Salon Aug. 26, 2026

According to Tim Mackey, a professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego, A.I. responses appear to be getting better at summarizing research, weighing credibility, and discerning misinformation.

From Slate Aug. 26, 2026

This could include individually assessed exclusion zones around victim's homes or workplaces and alerts that trigger police responses when conditions are breached.

From BBC Aug. 25, 2026

Bogert stated as much, in an extreme of unshown annoyance after having listened to each set of replies, made lists of word deviations, and graphs of the intervals of responses.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov




Vocabulary lists containing response


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