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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Response: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：reply or answer (response)

response 🔊

/rɪˈspɒns/

A verbal or written answer given after being asked a question or receiving a request.

Response illustrated by a person happily reading a reply email on a laptop.

reply or answer 🔊

➕

/ɹɪˈplaɪ ɔɹ ˈænsəɹ/

An answer, either spoken or written, provided to a question or a request.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'respondere' (to answer), from 're-' (back) + 'spondere' (to pledge).

💡 Mnemonic

A response is a REply made as a re-SPONDing to a SPONDered question.

📖 Example

After you send an email to your teacher, you hope to get a quick response. 🔊 After you send an email to your teacher, you hope to get a quick reply.

🔗 Collocations

immediate response – an answer or reaction that happens without any delay

written response – an answer that is communicated in text form

in response to – as an answer or reaction to something

🔄 Synonyms

reply (n./v.) – an answer or reaction to something that has been said or done.

answer (n./v.) – a spoken or written reaction to a question, request, letter, etc.

retort (n./v.) – a quick, witty, or sharp reply, especially one made in anger.

🚫 Antonyms

request (n.) – an act of asking for something politely or formally.

silence (n.) – complete absence of sound or communication; no reply.

🌱 Derivatives

responsive (adj.) – reacting quickly and positively.

respond (v.) – to say or do something as a reaction to something.

responsiveness (n.) – the quality of reacting quickly and positively.

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English via Old French 'response' in the 14th century. It holds legal weight in formal contexts like court pleadings, where a 'response' is a required, formal answer to a motion or complaint.

Meaning 2：reaction (response)

response 🔊

/rɪˈspɒns/

A physical or emotional change in behavior that happens when something occurs.

Emotional response shown by a person's surprised and delighted facial expression.

reaction 🔊

➕

/ɹiˈækʃən/

A physical, emotional, or behavioral change that occurs as a result of an event or stimulus.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The community’s response to the charity event was overwhelmingly positive, with many people volunteering to help. 🔊 The community’s reaction to the charity event was overwhelmingly positive, with many people volunteering to help.

🔗 Collocations

emotional response – a reaction that is based on feelings

positive response – a favorable or approving reaction

public response – the reaction from the general population or audience

🔄 Synonyms

reaction (n.) – a behavior or change that happens as a result of an event or influence.

feedback (n.) – information about reactions to a product, person's performance, etc., used as a basis for improvement.

reception (n.) – the way in which people react to something, such as an idea or a performance.

🚫 Antonyms

stimulus (n.) – something that causes a reaction or arouses activity.

cause (n.) – a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.