response
noun
re·sponse
ri-ˈspän(t)s 
1
: an act of responding
When you knocked on the door, was there any response?
2
: something constituting a reply or a reaction: such as
a
: a written or spoken answer
They got a response to their letter.
I am writing in response to your letter of July 8.
She questioned him but he made/gave no response.
b
: something done as a reaction
Her response to their decision was to quit.
c
: a verse, phrase, or word sung or said by the people or choir after or in reply to the officiant in a liturgical service
d
: the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation
e
: the output of a transducer or detecting device resulting from a given input
Examples of response in a Sentence
He got a response to his letter.
I am writing in response to your letter of July 17.
When I told him my plan, I wasn't expecting such an enthusiastic response.
Her response to their decision was to threaten to quit her job.
When you knocked on the door, was there any response?
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite emergency response efforts, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
—
Sergio Candido, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
The state records also show correction documents were submitted and approved in response to the violations.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Research shows that muscular strength has a direct impact on your stress response and mental health, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Agibot reengineered its Quasi-Direct Drive joints, now smaller than an egg, to retain precise force control and fast dynamic response, enabling the Q1 to move intentionally.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for response
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Sergio Candido, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
The state records also show correction documents were submitted and approved in response to the violations.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
Research shows that muscular strength has a direct impact on your stress response and mental health, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Agibot reengineered its Quasi-Direct Drive joints, now smaller than an egg, to retain precise force control and fast dynamic response, enabling the Q1 to move intentionally.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for response
Cite this Entry
“Response.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/response. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
response
noun
re·sponse
ri-ˈspän(t)s
1
: an act or instance of replying : answer
2
: words said or sung by the people or choir in a religious service
3
: a reaction of a living thing to a stimulus
Medical Definition
response
noun
re·sponse
ri-ˈspän(t)s
: the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation
a conditioned response
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