responsive

[ ri-spon-siv ]

adjective

1. responding especially readily and sympathetically to appeals, efforts, influences, etc.:

   a responsive government.

   Synonyms: sympathetic, understanding, receptive

2. Physiology. acting in response, as to some stimulus.
3. characterized by the use of responses:

   responsive worship.

responsive

/ rɪˈspɒnsɪv /

adjective

1. reacting or replying quickly or favourably, as to a suggestion, initiative, etc
2. (of an organism) reacting to a stimulus

Derived Forms

• reˈsponsively, adverb
• reˈsponsiveness, noun

Other Words From

• re·sponsive·ly adverb
• hyper·re·sponsive adjective
• hyper·re·sponsive·ly adverb
• hyper·re·sponsive·ness noun
• nonre·sponsive adjective
• nonre·sponsive·ly adverb
• quasi-re·sponsive adjective
• quasi-re·sponsive·ly adverb
• unre·sponsive adjective
• unre·sponsive·ly adverb
• unre·sponsive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of responsive¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word respōnsīvus. See response, -ive

Example Sentences

Again, Landau points to previous research to explain why dry or rainy conditions might prime weeds to be less responsive to herbicides.

From Science Daily

Other creatures have visual systems that are responsive to different frequencies of light, with birds and butterflies able to perceive wavelengths in the ultraviolet range.

From Salon

Basically, Trump's thinking has become so tangential that he's really not able to answer a question in a way that's responsive to the question being asked.

From Salon

“If the community wasn’t as responsive, what would it look like here?” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

"Businesses succeed by being responsive to customers and have a far better track record of customer service, streamlined paperwork and prompt response times than the federal government," the business lobbying group said in a statement.

From Salon

Related Words

• active
• aware
• compassionate
• conscious
• reactive
• receptive
• sensible
• sensitive
• susceptible
• sympathetic