Reply
A reply is a statement or acknowledgment made in response to an interrogative question, request or comment. Replies are communicated in a variety of ways, the most common being spoken or written, and act as a way of conveying relevant information and continuing a conversational exchange.
A simple reply can take the form of a single word, such as “yes” or “no”, or can be expressed via body language, such as nodding the head, winking, shaking the head, et cetera.
Answer (noun)
A said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
“Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.”
Answer (noun)
A solution to a problem.
“There is no simple answer to corruption.”
Answer (noun)
A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
Answer (verb)
To make a reply or response to.
“He answered the question.”
Answer (verb)
To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
“to answer a charge or accusation”
Answer (verb)
To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
“She answered the door.”
“Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.”
Answer (verb)
To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
“It answers the need.”
Answer (verb)
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
“The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.”
“He has a lot to answer for.”
Answer (verb)
To file a document in response to a complaint.
Answer (verb)
To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
Answer (verb)
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
Answer (verb)
To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
Answer (verb)
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
Answer (verb)
To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
“He answered my claim upon him.”
“The servant answered the bell.”
Answer (verb)
To render account to or for.
Answer (verb)
To atone for; to be punished for.
Answer (verb)
To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
Reply (verb)
To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
“lb|en|intransitive Please reply to my letter.”
“lb|en|transitive “Sorry I’m late,” replied the student.”
“lb|en|transitive He replied that he was not sure.”
Reply (verb)
To act or gesture in response.
“Joanne replied to Pete’s insult with a slap to his face.”
Reply (verb)
To repeat something back; to echo.
Reply (noun)
A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.
Reply (noun)
Something given in reply.
Reply (noun)
A counterattack.
Reply (noun)
The answer of a figure.
Answer (noun)
a thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation
“he knocked and entered without waiting for an answer”
“I hurried along the passage in answer to the doorbell’s ring”
Answer (noun)
a thing written or said in reaction to a question in a test or quiz
“write your answers on a postcard”
Answer (noun)
the correct solution to a question in a test or quiz
“the answer is 280°”
Answer (noun)
a solution to a problem or dilemma
“the answer to poverty and unemployment is a properly funded range of services”
Answer (noun)
a person or thing regarded as the equivalent to a better-known one from another place
“the press called her Britain’s answer to Marilyn Monroe”
Answer (verb)
say or write something as a reaction to someone or something
“‘Of course I can,’ she answered”
“Steve was about to answer, but Hazel spoke first”
“she tried to answer his questions truthfully”
“she answered that she would take nothing but the ring”
Answer (verb)
provide the required response to (a question in a test or quiz)
“answer the questions below for a chance to win a holiday”
Answer (verb)
respond impudently or disrespectfully to someone, especially when being criticized or told to do something
“I’d usually talk him round, but never answer back”
“Mary resisted the temptation to answer her mother back”
Answer (verb)
act in reaction to (a sound such as a telephone ringing or a knock or ring on a door)
“she rang Edward’s house, hoping the housekeeper would answer”
“Digby answered the door”
Answer (verb)
be responsible or report to (someone)
“I answer to the Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations”
Answer (verb)
defend oneself against (a charge, accusation, or criticism)
“he said he would return to Spain to answer all charges”
Answer (verb)
be required to explain or justify oneself to (someone)
“you will have the police to answer to”
Answer (verb)
be responsible or to blame for
“the dust mite has a lot to answer for, especially if you are asthmatic”
Answer (verb)
be suitable for fulfilling (a need); satisfy
“entrepreneurship is necessary to answer the needs of national and international markets”
Reply (verb)
say something in response to something someone has said
“she replied that she had been sound asleep”
“he was gone before we could reply to his last remark”
“‘I’m OK—just leave me alone,’ he replied”
Reply (verb)
write back in answer to someone
“she replied with a long letter the next day”
Reply (verb)
respond by a similar action or gesture
“they replied to the shelling with a heavy mortar attack”
Reply (noun)
a verbal or written answer
“I received a reply from the managing director”
“‘No,’ was the curt reply”
Reply (noun)
the action of answering someone or something
“I am writing in reply to your letter”
Reply (noun)
a response in the form of a gesture, action, or expression
“Clough scored the first goal and Speed hit a late reply”
Reply (noun)
a plaintiff’s response to the defendant’s plea.