Meaning of the word answer

English[edit]

Wikiquote

Alternative forms[edit]

• answeare, aunswer, aunswere (obsolete)

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɑːn.sə/, /ˈan.sə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæn.sɚ/
• (æ-tensing, rhotic) IPA^(key): [ˈeən.sɚ]
• (æ-tensing, non-rhotic) IPA^(key): [ˈeən.sə]
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈeːnsə/
• Hyphenation: an‧swer
• Rhymes: -ɑːnsə(ɹ), -ænsə(ɹ)

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) +‎ -swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer-), suggesting an original meaning of «a sworn statement rebutting a charge». The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”). Compare also Old English andwyrde (“answer”) (cognate to Dutch antwoord, German Antwort), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).

Noun[edit]

answer (plural answers)

1. A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.

   Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.

2. A solution to a problem.

   There is no simple answer to corruption.

3. (law) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• ask

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English answeren, andswaren, answerien, from Old English andswarian, answarien (“to answer, to respond, to deny an allegation under oath”), from Proto-Germanic *andaswarōną, *andaswarjaną (“to answer, to give a response, to rebut”), from *anda- (“against”) +‎ *swarjaną, *swarōną (“to swear an oath, to answer, to respond”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- (“to swear”) and *h₂ent- (“face, forehead”), equivalent to and- (“against, back”) +‎ swear. Cognate with Old Frisian ondswera (“to answer”), Danish ansvare (“to answer, account for”), Swedish ansvara (“to answer, account for”), Icelandic andsvara (“to answer, reply”).

Verb[edit]

answer (third-person singular simple present answers, present participle answering, simple past and past participle answered)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To make a reply or response to.
   • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

     “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.

   He answered the question.

2. (transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.

   to answer a charge or accusation

3. (transitive, intransitive) 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.

4. (transitive, intransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.

   • 1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Emma: […], volume III, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC:

     Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse’s entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness had perfectly answered.

   • 1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas:

     Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — «That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don’t like it. […]

   • 1871, Alexander J. Ellis, On Early English Pronunciation, London: Trübner & Co., Part III, Chapter 7, section 1, p. 656, footnote 1,^[1]

     Of course for publication in a newspaper, my palaeotype would not answer, but my glossotype would enable the author to give his Pennsylvania German in an English form and much more intelligibly.

   • 1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 41, in The Way of All Flesh:

     Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and «answering every purpose» was one of them.

   It answers the need.

5. To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.

   Synonym: answer for

   The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.

   He has a lot to answer for.

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene viii], page 90, column 2:

     And pleaſe your Maiestie, let his Neck anſwere for it, if there is any Marſhall Law in the World.

6. (law) To file a document in response to a complaint.
7. To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
   • 1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Dublin: G. Burnet et al., 1794, Act II, Scene 2, p. 25,^[2]

     Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.

   • 1793, Bryan Edwards, The History, Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies, Dublin: Luke White, Volume II, Book V, Chapter 2, p. 231,^[3]

     The use of dunder in the making of rum, answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.

8. To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
   • 1786, William Gilpin, Observations, relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the year 1772: on several parts of England; particularly the mountains, and lakes of Cumberland, and Westmoreland, London: R. Blamire, Volume II, Section 19, p. 85,^[4]

     The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]

9. To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.

   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 72, column 2:

     […] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conuenience

   • c. 1607–1608, William Shakeſpeare, The Late, And much admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: Imprinted at London for Henry Goſſon,  […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

     If this but answer to my just belief, / I’ll well remember you.

   • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 36:

     […] I might carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person.

10. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
    • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:

      These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant / Though by his blindness maim’d for high attempts, / Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,

    • 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 14, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 354:

      The reasoning was not and could not be answered.

11. 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.

    • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

      […] this proud king […] studies day and night / To answer all the debts he owes unto you

    • 1764, John Nourse, Navigation Or, the Art of Sailing Upon the Sea, page 65:

      The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won’t answer the helm so well.

12. (obsolete) To render account to or for.

    • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:

      […] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:

13. (obsolete) To atone for; to be punished for.

    • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

      […] The noble Brutus / Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: / If it were so, it was a grievous fault, / And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.

14. (obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• question

Anagrams[edit]

• Warnes, awners, resawn

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

answer

1. Alternative form of answere

If (Operator = «Add») answer: = aVar + bVar msgbox, % answer% ❋ Unknown (2009)

Gosub, % operator% return add: answer: = aVar + bVar msgbox, % answer% return multiply: answer: = aVar * bVar msgbox, % answer% return ❋ Unknown (2009)

Allows you to answer your own questions within minutes of posting them ensuring you receive maximum exposure … even if you chose not to select specific answers as * best answer*. ❋ Duncancarver (2008)

i helpful, there is «=» and «: =» with = you don’t use quotes, eg. this = This is GREAT! but how to use vars? put them in % here%. but: = works different. you need quotes. this: = «something is here» vars are naked this: = «the answer is» answer gives you the % answer%. and not … the actual answer. ❋ Unknown (2009)

«I found them at family prayer, asking the Lord to send them some food; my heart was touched as I listened to the simplicity of the petition, and I could not but feel the Lord had directed my steps to the house in answer to their prayer, and was reminded of that passage of Scripture, ‘_while they are yet speaking, I will answer_.’ ❋ James Sheridan Knowles (1823)

I. iii.l14 (22,2) My answer must be made] I shall be called to account, and must _answer_ as for seditious words. ❋ Samuel Johnson (1746)

FROM hussaini_users WHERE [question] = @question AND [answer] = @answer «; conn = new SqlConnection (» Data Source = SQLB23. webcontrolcenter.com; User ID = wbsd; Password = ***** «); cmd = new SqlCommand (cmdString, conn); cmd. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Goto might improve readability by allowing the value to be returned directly: mathFunction (operator, aVar, bVar) {answer: = mathFunction_ (operator, aVar, bVar) msgbox, % answer% return answer mathFunction_ (operator, aVar, bVar) { ❋ Unknown (2009)

McCain answer is to stick by what he knows is right and limit the child, child may still be angry with parent however the child is better off for the decision to be limited. ❋ Unknown (2008)

The main answer is the one you identify: my expertise in the area Malkin wandered into. ❋ Unknown (2005)

Though a complete answer to this question would fill a book, the general answer is a word-sensitivity. ❋ Unknown (1977)

I feel like my answer is a bit all over the place, so let me know if I’m not answering your question. ❋ Unknown (2009)

After reading the title, my answer is a resounding NO … ❋ Unknown (2009)

I totally hesitated to write as I know the answer is here somewhere but for time, can someone answer this question? ❋ Unknown (2009)

Each year the answer is the same, and wholly predictable. ❋ Unknown (2009)

When ask where, the answer is always, «someone else told me.» ❋ Unknown (2009)

I think the answer is almost anything, given the terms of the statute, which both demand action to protect the public once an endangerment finding and give wide discretion into how those goals are achieved. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But — regardless of the failures of my impressions and memories — unless the answer is the same to both questions, then the two are not even possibly analogous. ❋ Unknown (2010)

[ANSWER] [can kiss] [my ass] ❋ Dan Was Here (2003)

i answered jeffs [rebutle] ❋ Rackof Towles (2008)

«[Occupation] is a [crime] from [iraq] to palistain» ❋ Smartazz (2005)

The protests are never specific enough. These days, ANY protest is automatically mutated into an anti-irag-war and pro=[palestine]. The message shouldn’t be so [diluted]. There are always like 10 different ideas and you’re not really sure if you went for the right reason
But [anywho], answer is great; they strive for equality in the world ❋ Rise Up Rise Against (2004)

«[Ayo] dude was drunk off [six] [answers]» ❋ Anonymous (2003)

[Sex] is the answer. ❋ Lilililililillllllllllllllllll (2010)

❋ Jay (2003)

Citizen: Due to the highly negative impact on the [quality of life] of this city, we propose to do an in-depth investigation about [municipal] management of [toxic waste].
Politician: The Answer Is No To That. ❋ Rperazag (2010)

sex is always the answer, it’s never [the question] [’cause] [the answer‘s] yes ❋ Iamthewalrus123 (2010)

What is [the answer] to [100] (times) 5?
Answer:[500] ❋ .el-cee. (2010)

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I appeal to all Britishers to answer this call to arms for the defence of all the principles that we Englishmen have been the first to proclaim in the world.

John Amery

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD ANSWER

Old English andswaru an answer; related to Old Frisian ondser, Old Norse andsvar.

PRONUNCIATION OF ANSWER

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ANSWER

Answer is a verb and can also act as a noun.

WHAT DOES ANSWER MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of answer in the English dictionary

The first definition of answer in the dictionary is a reply, either spoken or written, as to a question, request, letter, or article. Other definition of answer is a reaction or response in the form of an action. Answer is also a solution, esp of a mathematical problem.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO ANSWER

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

CONDITIONAL

IMPERATIVE

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH ANSWER

SYNONYMS OF «ANSWER»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «answer» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF ANSWER

Find out the translation of answer to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «ANSWER»

The term «answer» is very widely used and occupies the 1.867 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of answer

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «ANSWER» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «ANSWER»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word answer.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ANSWER»

Discover the use of answer in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to answer and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ANSWER»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term answer is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Answer [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/answer>. Apr 2023 ».

[‘ɑːn(t)sə]
1. гл.

1) отвечать; откликаться

to answer politely / sharply / rudely — отвечать вежливо, резко, грубо

to answer a question / smb.’s remark — отвечать на вопрос , чьё-л. замечание

to answer in the affirmative / negative — дать положительный / отрицательный ответ

He answered me nothing. — Он мне ничего не ответил.

— answer a call

— answer the door
— answer the helm
— answer up

2) откликаться, реагировать на

to answer to the medical treatment — поддаваться лечению

The dog answers to the name of Rex. — Собака отзывается на кличку Рекс.

3) подходить, соответствовать, удовлетворять

to answer smb.’s demand / wishes — отвечать, соответствовать чьим-л. требованиям, желаниям

The man answers (to) the description of the wanted murderer. — Этот человек соответствует описанию разыскиваемого убийцы.

to answer one’s expectations — не обмануть (чьих-л.) ожиданий

Syn:

4) нести ответственность; ручаться

to answer for one’s own actions — отвечать за свои поступки

I will answer for it. — Я ручаюсь за это.

I can’t answer for his honesty. — Я не могу поручиться за его честность.

Who will answer to me for this? — Кто мне за это ответит?

He has а lot to answer for. — Ему за многое придётся ответить.

to answer for the consequences — отвечать за последствия

Syn:

5) удаваться; иметь успех

The experiment has not answered at all. — Опыт совсем не удался.

6) заменять, служить

A piece of paper on the table answered for a tablecloth. — Вместо скатерти на столе лежал лист бумаги.

•

••

— be answered for

2. сущ.

1) ответ

to give / offer / provide an answer — дать ответ

blunt / curt answer — грубый ответ

civil answer — вежливый ответ

diplomatic answer — дипломатичный ответ

direct / straight answer — прямой ответ

equivocal answer — двусмысленный ответ

evasive / vague answer — уклончивый, туманный ответ

glib answer — бойкий ответ

witty answer — остроумный ответ

dusty answer — неудовлетворительный ответ

— know all the answers

Syn:

Ant:

Gram:

[ref dict=»LingvoGrammar (En-Ru)»]Short answer[/ref]

2) ответное действие, реакция

His only answer was to walk out. — Его единственной реакцией был демонстративный уход.

3) решение

Syn:

5) (равноценная) замена, достойный ответ; аналог

East Germany joined the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet answer to NATO, in 1956. — В 1956 году Восточная Германия присоединилась к Организации Варшавского договора, советскому аналогу НАТО.

VH-1 is the baby boomers’ answer to MTV. — Музыкальный канал VH-1 — это своего рода MTV для поколения беби-бумеров.

Is Mel C aiming to be Britain’s answer to Madonna? — Стремится ли Мел Си стать британской Мадонной?

ответ, решение, возражение, реакция, отвечать, реагировать, удовлетворять

существительное ↓

глагол ↓

Словосочетания

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Фразовые глаголы

Возможные однокоренные слова

answerable  — ответственный, соответственный
answerer  — ответчик
answering  — отвечать, реагировать, удовлетворять, откликаться, подходить, ручаться, возражать

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: answer
he/she/it: answers
ing ф. (present participle): answering
2-я ф. (past tense): answered
3-я ф. (past participle): answered

noun
ед. ч.(singular): answer
мн. ч.(plural): answers

See Also: Anselm anserine Ansermet Ansgar Ansgarius Anshan ANSI Anson Ansonia anstoss answer answer back answer print answerable answerback answering machine answering pennant answering service ant ant bear ant cow Recent searches: View All

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks. WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 an•swer /ˈænsɚ/USA pronunciation   n.  [countable] a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.:My answer was «yes». a correct response to a question:When was the Declaration of Independence signed? The answer is 1776. counterpart:the French answer to the Beatles. an action that serves as a reply or response:Her answer to my proposal was a shrug of the shoulders. a solution to a problem:never claimed to have all the answers. in answer (to), by way of responding or replying:I offer these arguments in answer to your criticism. v. to speak or write in response (to); make answer (to); reply (to): [no object]She answered quietly.[~ + object]The nominee answered the questions with humor. to respond by an act or motion: [no object]When the phone rang, she was afraid to answer.[~ + object]They answered the doorbell.[~ + with + object]He answered with a laugh.[~ + object + with + object]They answered the attack with a full-scale assault of their own. to conform; correspond (to): [~ + to + object][not: be + ~-ing]She answered to the description.[~ + object]The suspect answers the police description. to solve:[~ + object (+ with + object)]answered the unemployment crisis with prompt actions. answer back, to reply impolitely or rudely (to): [no object]Don’t answer back.[~ + object + back]Don’t answer your teacher back like that. answer for, [~ + for + object] to act or suffer in consequence:He must answer for his criminal acts. to be or to declare oneself responsible or accountable:to answer for the President’s safety. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 an•swer  (an′sər, än′-),USA pronunciation n.  a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.:He sent an answer to my letter promptly. a correct response to a question asked to test one’s knowledge. an equivalent or approximation:a singing group that tried to be the French answer to the Beatles. an action serving as a reply or response:The answer was a volley of fire. a solution to a problem, esp. in mathematics. a reply to a charge or accusation. Lawmakinga pleading in which a party responds to his or her opponent’s statement of position, esp. the defendant’s reply to the plaintiff ‘s complaint. Music and Dancethe entrance of a fugue subject, usually on the dominant, either slightly altered or transposed exactly after each presentation in the tonic. v.i. to speak or write in response; make answer; reply. to respond by an act or motion:He answered with a nod. The champion answered with a right to the jaw. to act or suffer in consequence of (usually fol. by for). to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usually fol. by for):I will answer for his safety. to be satisfactory or serve (usually fol. by for):His cane answered for a baseball bat. to conform; correspond (usually fol. by to):The prisoner answered to the description issued by the police. v.t. to speak or write in response to; reply to:to answer a person; to answer a question. to act or move in response to:Answer the doorbell. We answered their goal with two quick goals of our own. to solve or present a solution of. to serve or fulfill:This will answer the purpose. to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.). to conform or correspond to; be similar or equivalent to:This dog answers your description. to atone for; make amends for. to reply or respond favorably to:I would like to answer your request but am unable to do so. answer back, to reply impertinently or rudely:Well-behaved children do not answer back when scolded. Nautical, Naval Terms answer the helm, (of a vessel) to maneuver or remain steady according to the position of the rudder. Middle English andswerien, Old English andswerian, andswarian derivative of andswaru an answer, equivalent. to and- opposite, facing (compare and, along) + Gmc *swarō, derivative of swear bef. 900 an′swer•er, n.  an′swer•less, adj.  1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged riposte. Answer, rejoinder, reply, response, retort all mean words used to meet a question, remark, charge, etc. An answer is a return remark:an answer giving the desired information.A rejoinder is a quick, usually clever answer or remark made in reply to another’s comment, not to a question. Reply usually refers to a direct or point-by-point response to a suggestion, proposal, question, or the like:a reply to a letter.A response often suggests an answer to an appeal, exhortation, etc., or an expected or fixed reply:a response to inquiry; a response in a church service.A retort implies a keen, prompt answer, esp. one that turns a remark upon the person who made it:a sharp retort. 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged defense, plea. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: answer /ˈɑːnsə/ n a reply, either spoken or written, as to a question, request, letter, or article a reaction or response in the form of an action: drunkenness was his answer to disappointment a solution, esp of a mathematical problem vb (when tr, may take a clause as object) to reply or respond (to) by word or act: to answer a question, he answered, to answer the door, he answered that he would come (transitive) to reply correctly to; solve or attempt to solve: I could answer only three questions (intransitive) usually followed by to: to respond or react (to a stimulus, command, etc): the steering answers to the slightest touch (when intr, often followed by )for: to meet the requirements (of); be satisfactory (for); serve the purpose (of): this will answer his needs, this will answer for a chisel (when intr, often followed by )to: to match or correspond (esp in the phrase answer (or answer to) the description) (transitive) to give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument) Etymology: Old English andswaru an answer; related to Old Frisian ondser, Old Norse andsvar; see swear ‘answer‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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• Defenition of the word answer

  • To communicate a message of any form in reaction to something that has been asked or expressed, to the being who expressed it.
  • To understand the meaning of.
  • A statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reaction to a question, a request, criticism or accusation
  • To respond to an incoming telephone call.
  • a nonverbal reaction; «his answer to any problem was to get drunk»; «their answer was to sue me»
  • the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff’s complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant’s plea of `guilty’ or `not guilty’ (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff’s complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
  • the speech act of replying to a question
  • give the correct answer or solution to; «answer a question» «answer the riddle»
  • react to a stimulus or command; «The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch»
  • respond to a signal; «answer the door,» «answer the telephone»
  • give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); «The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution»
  • be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of; «This may answer her needs»
  • match or correspond; «The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave»
  • be liable or accountable; «She must answer for her actions»
  • reply or respond to; «She didn’t want to answer»; «answer the question»; «We answered that we would accept the invitation»
  • a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; «I waited several days for his answer»; «he wrote replies to several of his critics»
  • understand the meaning of; «The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered»
  • a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem; «they were trying to find a peaceful solution»; «the answers were in the back of the book»; «he computed the result to four decimal places»
  • be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; «A few words would answer»; «This car suits my purpose well»; «Will $100 do?»; «A «B» grade doesn’t suffice to get me into medical school»
  • the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff»s complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant»s plea of `guilty» or `not guilty» (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintif
  • give the correct answer or solution to; «answer a question»; «answer the riddle»
  • respond to a signal; «answer the door»; «answer the telephone»
  • reply or respond to; «She didn»t want to answer»; «answer the question»; «We answered that we would accept the invitation»
  • be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; «A few words would answer»; «This car suits my purpose well»; «Will $100 do?»; «A »B» grade doesn»t suffice to get me into medical school»; «Nothing else will serve»
  • a nonverbal reaction
  • the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff’s complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant’s plea of `guilty’ or `not guilty’ (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff’s complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
  • a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
  • a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
  • understand the meaning of
  • give the correct answer or solution to
  • react to a stimulus or command
  • respond to a signal
  • give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
  • react verbally
  • be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
  • match or correspond
  • be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
  • be liable or accountable

Synonyms for the word answer

• • come back with
  • counter
  • do
  • fulfil
  • key
  • lay to rest
  • meet
  • react
  • reaction
  • rejoin
  • rejoinder
  • remedy
  • reply
  • resolution
  • resolve
  • respond
  • response
  • result
  • retort
  • riposte
  • satisfy
  • serve
  • solution
  • solve
  • solvent
  • suffice
  • way out

Similar words in the answer

• • answer
  • answer’s
  • answerable
  • answered
  • answering
  • answers

Hyponyms for the word answer

• • bridge over
  • bridle
  • call back
  • come back
  • counter
  • defence
  • defense
  • denouement
  • evasive answer
  • feedback
  • field
  • function
  • go a long way
  • go around
  • keep going
  • measure up
  • nolo contendere
  • non vult
  • plea
  • qualify
  • refutation
  • rejoin
  • repay
  • rescript
  • retort
  • return
  • riposte
  • sass
  • serve
  • tide over
  • urim and thummim
  • Urim and Thummin

Hypernyms for the word answer

• • agree
  • be
  • check
  • correspond
  • disprove
  • figure out
  • fill
  • fit
  • fulfil
  • fulfill
  • gibe
  • jibe
  • lick
  • live up to
  • match
  • meet
  • pleading
  • puzzle out
  • react
  • reaction
  • rebut
  • refute
  • reply
  • respond
  • response
  • satisfy
  • say
  • solve
  • state
  • statement
  • tally
  • tell
  • work
  • work out

Antonyms for the word answer

• • enquiry
  • inquiry
  • interrogation
  • query
  • question

See other words

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