response time: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “response time” mean?
The time taken for a system or person to react to a stimulus or request.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The time taken for a system or person to react to a stimulus or request.
A measurable period between the initiation of an action (e.g., a query, a signal, a click) and the receipt of a relevant reply or reaction. It is a critical metric in computing, customer service, psychology, and engineering.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling and usage are identical. 'Reaction time' is a slightly more common synonym in general British contexts, while 'response time' is firmly established in technical domains in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral/Technical in both. Slightly more likely to be used in everyday British English for human reactions (e.g., driver's response time) compared to US, where it's overwhelmingly technical.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to its prevalent use in IT and business tech contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “response time” in a Sentence
The [system] has a [fast] response time.We need to improve our [customer] response time.The response time of the [application] is [unacceptable].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “response time” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The response-time figures were alarming.
- We conducted a response-time analysis.
American English
- The response-time data is critical.
- We need a response-time improvement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Key metric for customer service teams (e.g., 'Our target email response time is under two hours.')
Academic
Used in psychology experiments and human-computer interaction studies (e.g., 'The study measured the subjects' response time to visual cues.')
Everyday
Used when discussing internet speed, app performance, or human reflexes (e.g., 'The website's response time is terrible on my phone.')
Technical
Fundamental metric in computing, networking, and control systems (e.g., 'The database query response time must be under 100 milliseconds.')
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “response time”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “response time”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “response time”
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'We need more response time'). Correct: 'We need a faster response time' or 'We need more time to respond.'
- Confusing 'response time' with 'resolution time'. The former is until the first reply; the latter is until the problem is solved.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun written as two separate words. The hyphenated form 'response-time' is only used when it functions as a modifier before a noun (e.g., 'response-time metrics').
They are often synonyms in computing. However, 'latency' more specifically refers to the delay caused by the physical transmission of data, while 'response time' is the total delay experienced by an end-user, which includes latency plus processing time.
Yes, especially in contexts like psychology, sports, or driving, where it means 'reaction time' (e.g., 'a pilot's response time to an emergency').
The standard plural is 'response times' (e.g., 'We recorded the response times for all test cases.').
The time taken for a system or person to react to a stimulus or request.
Response time is usually formal, technical in register.
Response time: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈspɒns ˌtaɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈspɑːns ˌtaɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RESPONSE as an answer, and TIME as how long it takes. RESPONSE TIME = Answer Time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE DISTANCE (e.g., 'We need to shorten our response time.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'response time' LEAST likely to be used?