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

And from there we can build a movement that ensures that we get through this dark period and deliver a fourth founding of a democracy that is responsive to what everyone wants, that is resilient, that includes everyone, and that is more perfect than any we’ve ever had before.

From Slate

“The thing that’s been promising is... things we emphasize, they’re really responsive,” Redick said after the win.

From Los Angeles Times

Overall, Initiative 83 will give the District a government that’s more representative and responsive to the people it serves.

From Slate

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

While California is overwhelmingly Democratic, it is a major source of Republican campaign dollars — Trump raised $333 million in the state for his 2016 campaign committee, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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