# responding

/ɹiˈspɑndɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪspˈɒndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/responding
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. answering

verb · CEFR A2

giving an answer to a question, email, or message.

For teachers: the act of replying to a communication or query. This form functions as a present participle or gerund.

- She is currently responding to all the invitations for her birthday party.
- The customer service team is responding to inquiries as quickly as possible, though the high volume of traffic has caused some delays.

Usage: Requires the preposition 'to' when followed by an object.

### 2. reacting

verb · CEFR B1

reacting to something, such as a medicine or a change in a situation.

For teachers: exhibiting a reaction to a stimulus, treatment, or external event.

- The patient is responding well to the new medicine the doctor gave him.
- Economists are closely monitoring how the market is responding to the central bank's latest adjustment of interest rates.

Usage: Often used in medical or technical contexts to describe how a system or body changes.

### 3. the act of giving a response

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the action of giving a reply or a reaction.

For teachers: the gerundial use of the word to describe the process or action of providing a response.

- Responding quickly is important if you want to win the contract.
- The study focused on the speed of responding in emergency situations, measuring the time between the alarm and the first physical action.

## Examples

- She is responding to your email right now.
- The emergency services are responding to a call about a fire in the city center.
- While the patient is responding well to the new medication, doctors remain cautious about the long-term effects on his immune system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.