answer
/ˈænsɚ/
verbnoun
Core
1.v.react verbally
“She didn't want to answer”
2.v.respond to a signal
“answer the door”
3.v.give the correct answer or solution to
“answer a question”
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answer and reply share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. answer means “react verbally”. reply means “a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation”. answer is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈænsɚ/
1.v.react verbally
“She didn't want to answer”
2.v.respond to a signal
“answer the door”
3.v.give the correct answer or solution to
“answer a question”
/ɹɪˈplaɪ/
1.n.a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
“I waited several days for his answer”
2.n.the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange
“he growled his reply”
3.v.react verbally
“She didn't want to answer”
| answer | reply | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈænsɚ/ | /ɹɪˈplaɪ/ |
| Said | AN-sur | ri-PLAHY |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 15 | 3 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | reply, respond | answer, response |
Full entry for answer · Full entry for reply · More comparisons