RSVP

or R.S.V.P.

[ ahr-es-vee-pee ]

verb (used without object)

, RSVPed or RSVP'd, RSVPing or RSVP'ing.

1. to reply to an invitation:

   Don't forget to RSVP before Thursday.

noun

, plural RSVP's.

1. a reply to an invitation:

   He sent a lovely bouquet of flowers with his RSVP.

2. (used on an invitation to indicate that the favor of a reply is requested.)

RSVP

abbreviation for

1. répondez s'il vous plaît

R.S.V.P.

1. Please reply or answer. From the French, “répondez s'il vous plaît,” meaning “respond if you please.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of RSVP¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from French r(épondez) s('il) v(ous) p(laît), “please reply”; respond ( def ), rendezvous, please

Word History and Origins

Origin of RSVP¹

French: please reply

Example Sentences

Individual events have limited space, so participation requires an RSVP.

From Los Angeles Times

“We immediately started working together on how we could plan a Zoom this large,” Watts said, adding that: “We had some idea that it might be big, given that as soon as we put up the landing page for people to RSVP, it started crashing.”

From Slate

If you’re lucky, some concerts are free with RSVP.

From Los Angeles Times

No RSVP, no cover, no line outside.

From Los Angeles Times

Of the 500-plus people who had RSVP’d for the L.A. event, about 200 showed up.

From Los Angeles Times