How to Use call-and-response in a Sentence

call-and-response

noun
Definition of call-and-responsenext
  • This performance might be best served with a generous helping of call-and-response and a dash of theatrics.
    — Ada Tseng, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
  • Before fights, the star talent leads fans in call-and-response chants, working in an idiom that’s equal parts Muhammad Ali, boom-bap rap and Zen koan.
    — Giri Nathan, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Attwell employs the call-and-response dynamic that’s been the domain of theatre and church from the very beginning.
    — Giovanni René Rodriguez, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
  • The tone of the Wednesday evening session was mostly triumphant, packed with call-and-response exchanges and upbeat music.
    — Brittany Shammas, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2023
  • These leaders play a central role in the masquerade by invoking call-and-response chants known as spellings.
    — Melissa Noel, Essence, 8 Sep. 2023
  • The procedure that the hospital hopes to initiate is not the only call-and-response under threat here.
    — Lauren Oyler, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2023
  • Danny Brown, an audience member, invited the crowd to rise to their feet for a call-and-response rally.
    — NBC News, 29 June 2023
  • And on Monday, a masked man led a call-and-response chant by protesters on a crowded Manhattan subway car.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 14 June 2024
  • His body sways, as if possessed by an otherworldly force, and his voice drums with a longing to connect with the audience for this call-and-response song.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2023
  • Advertisement Behind him, a group of men hoisted a bullhorn-wielding friend on their shoulders to lead a call-and-response.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
  • The demonstration began, and Ahmed spoke first, doing his best to distill his discursive style into something closer to call-and-response.
    — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2023
  • Here, Flores indulged in an unusual call-and-response with the audience, who happily played along.
    — Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2023
  • The video featured a series of call-and-response exclamations in between shots of Ukrainian troops who appeared to be preparing for battle.
    — Emily Jacobs, Washington Examiner, 10 June 2023
  • The quintessential crunk anthem, produced by Lil Jon, boasts an explosive energy, heavy bass, and call-and-response style lyrics.
    — Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 17 June 2024
  • Semira is adept at knowing when to interlace perfect concert call-and-response moments into their rhymes.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024
  • And with their roaring guitars, ringing piano, and propulsive drums, the Hold Steady came out of the gate with the day’s most unabashed rock ‘n’ roll, though the call-and-response and audience clapping in rhythm fit solidly within the folk tradition.
    — Marc Hirsh, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2023
  • Euphoria moment at the shots of the human mega-fans in the audience, dressed up in their own vampire cosplay, mouthing along to the words and shouting out in call-and-response moments like some kind of protozoic Rocky Horror Picture Show.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 19 May 2024
  • Their call-and-response structure also helps play up their complementary tones while remaining true to the anthemic nature of power soca.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 2 May 2024
  • In an earlier scene, Cox performs a call-and-response banjo duet with a young native (Billy Redden) in an iconic musical sequence.
    — Rhett Bartlett, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
  • The two-channel video installation is tucked into the back of the gallery space and immediately immerses viewers into a call-and-response rap session.
    — Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023
  • Some of them enthusiastically parroted several of the mayor’s call-and-response chants from the stage.
    — Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024
  • The format, which simulates the call-and-response familiar from blues and other Southern Black music traditions, lets each poem offer up several points-of-view at once.
    — June Thomas, New York Times, 16 June 2023
  • His wife then decided, whether in celebration or competition, to sing the jaleo—that hell-raising-flamenco call-and-response—with the senior Hermoso, Fernando, who turned out to have a great voice.
    — Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2024
  • Start with simple melodic phrases, some call-and-response and the music gains momentum, complexity, and intensity until the notes reach a ringing climax that inevitably brings cheers and air slide guitar from the crowd.
    — cleveland, 20 July 2023
  • For 68 minutes in the House chamber, Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats on economic issues, taxes and healthcare and seemed to revel in the fight.
    — Zeke Miller, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
  • Their call-and-response music, backed by percussion, celebrates acts of bravery and defiance and has become an essential part of Mardi Gras tradition.
    — Jill K. Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2023
  • The governor's office was filled with lawmakers and other supporters for a celebratory ceremony with loud applause and call-and-response chants.
    — Adam Shaw, Fox News, 15 Apr. 2023
  • In virtually every live performance, Belafonte's audiences would enthusiastically join in the song's call-and-response melody and refrain.
    — Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'call-and-response.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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