Response vs. Respond — What's the Difference?

"Response" and "respond" both pertain to the act of answering or reacting to something. The primary distinction between the two lies in their grammatical functions. "Response" is a noun that designates the act or process of replying or reacting. For instance, when someone poses a question, the answer given can be termed as a "response." Conversely, "respond" is a verb that denotes the action of giving a reply or reacting. If someone were to ask a question, and one were to give an answer, they would "respond" to the query.

Another way to view the difference between "response" and "respond" is by examining their usage in sentences. With "response," one can expect to see articles or modifiers preceding it, such as "a response" or "the immediate response." In contrast, "respond" would be employed with subjects and, at times, objects, indicating who is performing the action and to whom, as in "She didn't respond to his calls."

The structure of sentences further illustrates the distinction. Using "response," one might say, "The response was overwhelming," which implies a focus on the reaction itself. On the other hand, with "respond," the sentence could be "The audience responded with applause," highlighting the action taken by the audience.

While both terms are integral to communication dynamics, "response" often emphasizes the content or effect of the reaction, while "respond" places emphasis on the act or process of reacting.