# responsive

/ɹɪˈspɑnsɪv/ (US) · /ɹɪspˈɒnsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/responsive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. reacting to people or needs

adjective · CEFR B2

reacting quickly and in a helpful way to a person or a situation.

For teachers: reacting quickly and positively to suggestions, requests, or influence.

- The company is very responsive to customer complaints and usually replies within an hour.
- The local government proved surprisingly responsive to the community's concerns regarding the proposed development, immediately scheduling a public forum.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'to'.

### 2. medical or physical reaction

adjective · CEFR B2

reacting to a physical touch, a medicine, or a treatment.

For teachers: showing a physical or physiological reaction to external stimuli or medical intervention.

- The patient's pupils were responsive to light, which was a good sign.
- The infection proved highly responsive to the new course of antibiotics, with the patient showing significant improvement within forty-eight hours.

### 3. web design

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describing a website that changes its layout to fit perfectly on a phone, tablet, or computer.

For teachers: relating to a web design approach where layouts automatically adjust to the user's device and screen size.

- You should use a responsive design so your website looks good on mobile phones.
- The developer prioritised a responsive interface to ensure that the data visualisations remained legible across a variety of mobile and desktop platforms.

### 4. emotional sensitivity

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing that you understand and care about other people's feelings.

For teachers: showing sensitivity or sympathy toward the emotions and needs of others.

- A responsive leader listens to their team and understands their worries.
- Her responsive nature made her an excellent counsellor, as she could intuitively sense the unspoken anxieties of her clients.

## Examples

- The touch screen is very responsive to light pressure.
- The company became much more responsive to customer complaints after the new manager took over.
- A truly responsive government must not only listen to the immediate demands of the electorate but also anticipate the long-term consequences of shifting social trends.

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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.