call-and-response

noun

call-and-re·​sponse ˌkȯl-ən(d)-ri-ˈspän(t)s How to pronounce call-and-response (audio)
: a statement quickly followed by an answering statement
also : a musical phrase in which the first and often solo part is answered by a second and often ensemble part

Examples of call-and-response in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then came a volley of call-and-response chants led by a worker with a megaphone. — Joel Khalili, Wired News, 29 May 2026 Pop’s vocals add imperfect earthiness, grounding the album in what feels almost like blues call-and-response. — David Harris, SPIN, 16 June 2026 The little four-note melodic scraps tumble over each other ceaselessly in a call-and-response that scrambles your sense of which end is transmission and which is reception. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026 Boeing’s emergency checklists warn pilots not to rush through a formal call-and-response between the captain and the first officer before shutting down an engine. — James Glanz, New York Times, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for call-and-response

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of call-and-response was in 1827

Rhymes for call-and-response

See All Rhymes for call-and-response

Browse Nearby Words

callaloo
call-and-response
callant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Call-and-response.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call-and-response. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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