responsive

/rɪˈspɑnsɪv/

/rəˈspɒnsɪv/

Other forms: responsively

People who are responsive are alert and aware — they're giving responses. The least responsive people in the world are people in deep comas.

Responsive has several meanings, but they're very similar. If someone just came out of a coma and starting saying anything at all (or even started blinking), you'd be happy at how responsive they are. A person who has enthusiasm is more responsive than someone who is quiet and seems bored. Things other than people can be responsive too: a plant is responsive to sunlight, and the fire department is responsive to a fire. Anything that is alert and quick to react is responsive.

Definitions of responsive

1. adjective

   reacting to a stimulus
   synonyms: reactive

   sensitive

   responsive to physical stimuli
2. adjective

   readily reacting or replying to people or events or stimuli; showing emotion
   “children are often the quickest and most responsive members of the audience”

   synonyms:

   answering, respondent

   replying

   sensitive

   responsive to physical stimuli

   sensitive

   being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others

   antonyms:

   unresponsive

   not responding to some influence or stimulus

   refractory

   temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli

   insensitive

   not responsive to physical stimuli

   insensitive

   deficient in human sensibility; not mentally or morally sensitive
3. adjective

   containing or using responses; alternating
   “responsive reading”

   synonyms: antiphonal