respond
verb OPAL WOPAL S
/rɪˈspɒnd/
/rɪˈspɑːnd/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they respond | /rɪˈspɒnd/ /rɪˈspɑːnd/ |
| he / she / it responds | /rɪˈspɒndz/ /rɪˈspɑːndz/ |
| past simple responded | /rɪˈspɒndɪd/ /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/ |
| past participle responded | /rɪˈspɒndɪd/ /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/ |
| -ing form responding | /rɪˈspɒndɪŋ/ /rɪˈspɑːndɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] (rather formal) to give a spoken or written answer to somebody/something synonym reply
- I asked him his name, but he didn't respond.
- respond to something/somebody The government did not respond to our questions.
- She never responded to my letter.
- + speech ‘I'm not sure,’ she responded.
- respond that… When asked about the company's future, the director responded that he remained optimistic.
- respond with something He responded with a question.
Which Word? answer / replyanswer / replyVerbs- Answer and reply are the most common verbs used for speaking or writing as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.
- Note that you answer a person, question or letter, not answer to them, but you reply to somebody or something:
- I’m writing to answer your questions
- I’m writing to reply to your questions.
- I’m writing to answer to your questions.
- Answer can be used with or without an object:
- I haven’t answered her email yet.
- I knocked on the door but nobody answered.
- ‘I won’t let you down,’ he replied.
- Respond is less common and more formal:
- The directors were unwilling to respond to questions.
- You can only answer a door or a phone.
- Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to:
- I’m writing in answer to your letter.
Extra Examples- He responded politely to her questions.
- I wrote responding to their call for feedback.
- More than fifty people responded to the advertisement.
- 127 students responded to the survey.
- The company did not respond to requests for an interview.
- They usually respond to email quickly.
- We try to respond to complaints within 48 hours.
- The federal agency failed to respond to the petition within a reasonable time.
- If you send us an online enquiry, we will respond as soon as possible.
- She wasn't sure how he was likely to respond.
- She responded with a smile.
- You can respond by email or phone.
- If you see an opportunity that interests you, you can respond immediately via the link.
- You have to listen to what someone says and respond appropriately.
- He immediately responded, “Why me?”
- She responded that she hadn't had any complaints.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- politely
- angrily
- calmly
- …
- to
- via
- with
- …
- [intransitive] to do something as a reaction to something that somebody has said or done synonym react
- respond (to something/somebody) How did they respond to the news?
- to respond to a call/need/demand
- The public is responding positively to these changes.
- to respond favourably/enthusiastically
- respond by doing something The government responded by banning all future demonstrations.
- respond with something The audience responded with enthusiasm.
Extra Examples- The demonstrators threw stones and the police responded with tear gas.
- The Blues responded with a goal from Tim Janz.
- He responded to the report by calling on schools to do more to tackle bullying.
- The authorities responded to the protests with force.
- Responding to calls for a more diverse canon, we are reviewing our curriculum.
- Part of our strategy is to go into neglected markets and respond to these needs.
- Companies are responding to the growing demand for no-sugar products.
- We do not have a strategy. We merely respond to ideas from local people.
- The government needs to listen to the public and respond accordingly.
- The government responded by tightening the law on gun ownership.
- The terrorists declared all-out war on the government and the government responded in kind.
- How a plant responds to an unfavourable change in its environment often depends on its health at the time.
- Workers may respond negatively to management decisions if they are not consulted.
- Consumers respond differently to different types of packaging.
- She responded angrily to the criticisms.
- He promptly responded to the threat by issuing one of his own.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- instantly
- promptly
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- be likely to
- …
- by
- to
- with
- …
- an ability to respond
- a capacity to respond
- a willingness to respond
- …
- [intransitive] respond (to something/somebody) to react quickly or in the correct way to something/somebody
- The car responds very well to the controls.
- You can rely on him to respond to a challenge.
- Our company is small enough to respond quickly.
- He tried to move but his body wouldn't respond.
Extra Examples- We asked for help and people responded.
- Voters responded to his simple message.
- The plants readily respond to these stimuli.
- The teams responded magnificently to the challenge.
- He has to be able to respond appropriately to the situation as it unfolds.
- The lifeboat crew was responding to a distress call.
- Police responded to a domestic dispute call at the couple's home shortly after midnight.
- These are front-line workers responding to emergencies.
- Businesses want to make money online, and web developers have responded accordingly.
- This chapter discusses how companies can respond effectively to environmental change.
- Architects have responded creatively to the challenge of building in historic locations.
- The young designer was able to respond to criticism with great insight.
- The system enables teachers to respond flexibly to the needs of their students.
- Members of the public responded immediately to the charity's appeal for funds.
- Companies have to respond to the changing economic climate.
- The music seems to respond emotionally to the landscape.
- When people walk into this gallery, they respond immediately.
- People really respond to her honesty and directness.
- The students immediately responded to the idea.
- Generally, social structures respond to crises by adapting.
- Government can be slow to respond to innovations.
- We were quick to respond to this new threat.
- Presented with a clear opportunity, the opposition failed to respond.
- We respond to business problems in creative ways.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- immediately
- instantly
- promptly
- …
- be able to
- be unable to
- be likely to
- …
- by
- to
- with
- …
- an ability to respond
- a capacity to respond
- a willingness to respond
- …
- [intransitive] respond (to something) to improve as a result of a particular kind of treatment
- The infection did not respond to the drugs.
Extra Examples- Their son is responding well to the treatment.
- His condition failed to respond to the treatment.
Word Originlate Middle English (as a noun): from Old French, from respondre ‘to answer’, from Latin respondere, from re- ‘again’ + spondere ‘to pledge’. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.