A response is a reaction to something that has happened or been said; an answer to a question or problem; or a written or spoken reply to a communication.
What Does Response Mean?
Response comes from Latin responsum, the past participle of respondere — from re- (back) + spondere (to pledge or promise). The core idea is of something given back in exchange. The word entered English in the late 14th century via Old French respons, and has kept this sense of a return communication or reaction ever since.
In modern English, response is used across a wide range of contexts: academic writing ("the body's immune response"), formal correspondence ("we await your response"), everyday conversation ("what was her response?"), and data collection ("the survey had a high response rate"). This breadth makes it one of the most versatile nouns in the language.
The key distinction to remember is that response is broader than reply or answer. A reply or answer typically refers to a verbal or written communication, whereas a response can also be physical, emotional, or behavioural. The government might respond to a crisis through legislation; the body might respond to medication; an audience might respond to a performance with applause — none of these would normally use reply or answer.
Example Sentences (A2 → C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| I sent an email but I did not get a response. | A2 — response as written reply |
| Her response to the essay question was well-structured and clearly argued. | B1 — response in an academic context |
| The government's response to the flooding included emergency funding for affected areas. | B1 — response to a crisis |
| The film received a mixed response from critics, though audiences were largely enthusiastic. | B2 — response as general public reaction |
| A conditioned response is a learned reaction triggered by a stimulus that would not naturally produce it. | C1 — technical/academic register (psychology) |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| give a response | Please give a response by Friday. |
| receive a response | We received a response within 24 hours. |
| await a response | The committee is awaiting a response from the minister. |
| immediate response | The fire service gave an immediate response. |
| positive / negative response | The proposal got a very positive response from stakeholders. |
| emotional response | The speech provoked a strong emotional response in the audience. |
| in response to | In response to your query, please see the attached document. |
| response rate | The survey had a response rate of 68 per cent. |
| response time | The average response time for customer complaints is two working days. |
| elicit a response | The researcher used open questions to elicit a more detailed response. |
Usage Notes
How to Use Response Correctly
- Preposition: Always use response to, never response of or response for. The standard pattern is a response to something or in response to something.
- Formal vs informal: Response sounds more formal and neutral than reply. In professional writing, favour response; in casual speech, reply or answer are equally natural.
- Countable noun: Response is almost always countable. Use a response, one response, or many responses. Avoid treating it as uncountable (e.g., do not write "much response" — instead write "a significant response" or "many responses").
- Verb form: The related verb is respond. There is no verb to response — this is a frequent learner error.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
She did not response to my message.
She did not respond to my message. (respond is the verb; response is the noun)
I am waiting for his response of my email.
I am waiting for his response to my email. (use to, not of)
There was much response to the advertisement.
There was a strong response to the advertisement. (response is countable; use an article or adjective)