to reply or answer in words

to respond briefly to a question.

to make a return by some action as if in answer

to respond generously to a charity drive.

to react favorably.

Physiology . to exhibit some action or effect as if in answer; react

Nerves respond to a stimulus.

to correspond (usually fol. by to ).

Bridge . to make a response.

to say in answer; reply.

Architecture . a half pier, pilaster, or the like projecting from a wall as a support for a lintel or an arch, the other side of which is supported on a free-standing pier or column.

Ecclesiastical .

a short anthem chanted at intervals during the reading of a lection.

responsory.

response.

verb

ask , question , request

verb

acknowledge , act in response , answer , answer back , behave , be in touch with , come back , come back at , come in , counter , feedback , feel for , field the question , get back to , get in touch , react , reciprocate , rejoin , reply , retort , return , talk backnotes:respond suggests a quick reaction while reply implies a return commensurate with the original demand or question , riposte , meet , correspond , feel , field , response , write