1. readily reacting or replying to people or events or stimuli; showing emotion - children are often the quickest and most responsive members of the audience • Ant: unresponsive • Similar to: answering, respondent • See Also: sensitive • Derivationally related forms: responsiveness, respond 2. reacting to a stimulus - the skin of old persons is less reactive than that of younger persons • Syn: reactive • Similar to: sensitive • Derivationally related forms: reactivity (for: reactive), react (for: reactive) 3. containing or using responses; alternating - responsive reading - antiphonal laughter • Syn: antiphonal • Pertains to noun: antiphon (for: antiphonal), response • Derivationally related forms: antiphonal (for: antiphonal), antiphon (for: antiphonal)