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 response share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. answer means “react verbally”. response means “a result”. 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”
/ɹɪˈspɑns/
1.n.a result
“this situation developed in response to events in Africa”
2.n.a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent
“a bad reaction to the medicine”
3.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”
| answer | response | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈænsɚ/ | /ɹɪˈspɑns/ |
| Said | AN-sur | ri-SPAHNS |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 8 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun |
| Senses | 15 | 7 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | reply, respond | none recorded |
Full entry for answer · Full entry for response · More comparisons