a phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister
"The priest asked for our prayers, and the congregation responded immediately with their traditional answer to his opening words."
the manner in which an electrical or mechanical device responds to an input signal or a range of input signals
"The engineer adjusted the filter settings because the system's response time was too slow for the high-frequency input signals."
An answer or reply, or something in the nature of an answer or reply.
"Her quick response to my question surprised everyone at the meeting."
In plain English: A response is what someone says or does after hearing something or being asked a question.
"She waited anxiously for his response to her question."
Usage: Use response to describe any reaction given as an answer to a question, request, or stimulus. It is often interchangeable with reply when referring specifically to verbal answers, but can also denote non-verbal reactions like physiological responses.
The word response entered English via Middle French and Old French as "respounse," carrying its original Latin meaning of a reply or answer. It is built from the Latin roots for "again" and "to promise," reflecting the idea of answering in return to a question or request.