re ‧ spond S2 W2 AC /rɪˈspɒnd $ rɪˈspɑːnd/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ respondent , ↑ response , ↑ responsiveness ; verb : ↑ respond ; adverb : ↑ responsively ; adjective : ↑ responsive ≠ ↑ unresponsive ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: respondere 'to promise in return, answer' , from spondere ; ⇨ ↑ sponsor 1 ]
1 . [intransitive] to do something as a reaction to something that has been said or done SYN react
respond to
Responding to the news, Mr Watt appealed for calm.
respond by doing something
The US responded by sending troops into Laos.
respond with
Villagers responded with offers of help.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to say or write something as a reply
respond that
He responded that he didn’t want to see anyone.
respond to
Dave didn’t respond to any of her emails.
3 . [intransitive] to improve as a result of a particular kind of treatment
respond to
She has responded well to treatment.
Colds do not respond to antibiotics.
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THESAURUS
▪ answer to say something to someone when they have asked you a question or spoken to you:
You don’t have to answer the question if you don’t want to.
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I said hello to her, but she didn’t answer.
▪ reply to answer someone. Used especially in written English to report what someone said:
‘I’m so sorry,’ he replied.
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We asked Jane to help, but she replied that she was too busy.
▪ respond formal to answer someone:
How do you respond to the allegation that you deliberately deceived your employers?
▪ give somebody an answer to answer someone by telling them what you have decided or giving them a piece of information they asked for:
He asked me to marry him, but I didn’t give him an answer straight away.
▪ get back to somebody to answer someone at a later time especially by telephoning them, usually because you need to think about their question or find out more information:
She’s promised to get back to me as soon as she hears any more news from the hospital.
▪ retort written to answer someone angrily, especially because they have annoyed you or criticized you:
‘You’re not afraid?’ Brenda asked. ‘Of course not,’ he retorted angrily.