respond

The word “respond” means to say or write something as an answer. In plain terms, to answer or react to something.

“Respond” is pronounced rih-SPOND (/ɹɪˈspɑnd/ in IPA).

Here is “respond” used in a sentence: “She responded to his email within the hour.”

Words with a similar meaning to “respond” include answer, retort, answer back, react, rejoin and counter.

“Respond” is a verb.

The word “respond” comes from Latin. From Old French respondre, from Latin respondere, "to answer, promise in return.".

“Respond” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Respond” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to say or write something as an answer.

To respond is to give a considered answer in words, spoken or written. To react is to show an immediate, often instinctive response to something — a facial expression, a reflex or a burst of emotion. Responding suggests thought and communication; reacting suggests an automatic response. You can react without saying a word.

The two are very close and often interchangeable. Reply almost always means to answer a specific message or question directly. Respond is a little broader: you can respond to a question, but also to a situation, a request or an emergency. Every reply is a response, but not every response is a simple reply.

You might write, "Please respond to this email by Friday," or say, "She responded calmly to the criticism." The word covers any spoken or written answer, from a quick text reply to a formal statement. It signals that someone is answering a message, question or situation.