answer

Definition of answer in English English dictionary: A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints; A response; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.; To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily
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.; Reply to an email. (reply); To make a reply or response to
He answered the question.; To file a document in response to a complaint; To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment
She answered the door.; To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with
I wish she had answered her picture as well.; A solution to a problem
There is no simple answer to curbing corruption.; {n} a reply, return, confutation, solution; {v} to reply, solve, fulfil, succeed, suit, witness for, be accountable; To be or act in return; be liable or accountable; "She must answer for her actions; In a fugue, the second entry of the subject; To be opposite to; to face; The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense; In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill; To be opposite, or to act in opposition; To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay; To atone; to be punished for; An answer is a letter that you write to someone who has written to you. I wrote to him but I never had an answer back She wrote to Roosevelt's secretary in answer to his letter of the day before. = reply, response; 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"; Your answer to something that someone has said or done is what you say or do in response to it or in defence of yourself. In answer to speculation that she wouldn't finish the race, she boldly declared her intention of winning it. = reply, response; To make a satisfactory response or return; {f} respond, reply; solve, provide a solution; To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response; 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"; react to a stimulus or command; "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"; the defendant's response to the plaintiff's compliant The answer admits or denies the claims in the plaintiff's complaint; If you answer a letter or advertisement, you write to the person who wrote it. She answered an advert for a job as a cook; A pleading by which defendant responds to the plaintiff's complaint; To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit; the written response to a complaint, petition, or motion; A written pleading filed by the responding party in a civil case addressing the facts alleged in the complaint; To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to; A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question; the speech act of replying to a question; The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint, or written motion, and setting forth the grounds for defense or response; When you answer the telephone, you pick it up when it rings. When you answer the door, you open it when you hear a knock or the bell. She answered her phone on the first ring A middle-aged woman answered the door. Answer is also a noun. I knocked at the front door and there was no answer; To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer; 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"; If someone or something answers a particular description or answers to it, they have the characteristics described. Two men answering the description of the suspects tried to enter Switzerland The Japanese never built any aircraft remotely answering to this description. = fit; If you say that someone will not take no for an answer, you mean that they go on trying to make you agree to something even after you have refused. He would never take no for an answer; give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle"; a nonverbal reaction; "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"; match or correspond; "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"; 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 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" the speech act of replying to a question understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered" 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" reply or respond to; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation" 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; An answer is something that you say when you answer someone. Without waiting for an answer, he turned and went in through the door I don't quite know what to say in answer to your question. = reply, response; If you answer something that someone has said or done, you respond to it. He answered her smile with one of his own That statement seemed designed to answer criticism of allied bombing missions. = counter; When you answer someone who has asked you something, you say something back to them. Just answer the question He paused before answering `When?' asked Alba, `Tonight', answered Tom Williams answered that he had no specific proposals yet; 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 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"; A formal, written statement by the defendant in a lawsuit which answers each allegation contained in the complaint; give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"; A formal response to a claim, admitting or denying the allegations in the claim; Written response in a civil case; in it the defendant admits or denies allegations made by the plaintiff; A pleadingthat is, a paper filed with the court, in this case by the defendant responding to the allegations the plaintiff made in the complaint; A respondent's written reply to a claim (See arbitration, claim); Written document filed in response to a complaint, consisting of short plain statements denying the allegations in the complaint which the employer contests; If something answers a need or purpose, it satisfies it, because it has the right qualities. We provide specially designed shopping trolleys to answer the needs of parents with young children. = satisfy; be liable or accountable; "She must answer for her actions"; Pleading The response of a defendant to the plaintiff's complaint, denying in part or in whole the allegations made by the plaintiff; To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute; a document used to respond to a complaint Answers usually admit or deny specific allegations or claims in the document being answered; To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care; To be or act in return or response to; An answer to a problem is a solution to it. There are no easy answers to the problems facing the economy Prison is not the answer for most young offenders; A statement made by the defendant in response to a complaint or action which has been brought against the defendant It states why the defendant should not be held liable (LE); A written statement made by the defendant in a civil case in response to the charges or complaints filed; Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply; {i} response, reply; solution
answer back: To issue echo characters, protocol responses, reflexive connection requests, etc
answer back: To reply to a question at a later time
Please answer me back before the end of the week.
answer back: To reply impertinently; to talk back
I'll thank you not to answer back like that! Where are your manners?.
answer for: To be held responsible for
The mayor has a lot to answer for.
answer for: To guarantee
I will answer for his debt, if he can't pay on the day.
answer on a postcard: A brief answer or opinion
John sent me a three page report when I just wanted an answer on a postcard.
answer print: The first graded print of an edited film combining sound and picture, which is created for the client to view and approve; his answer decides when the rest of the copies of the film are printed or not
After seeing the novice director's debut's answer print, the studio bosses gave their answer by printing a foot in the director's backside as copiously as he had hoped it would be printed and distributed.
answer the call of nature: To satisfy the bodily urge to urinate or defecate
Unfortunately mountain climbers, like everybody else, need to answer the call of nature, and there are few toilet facilities on mountains.
answer the helm: To respond to a movement of the helm by changing direction; only happens if the ship has steerageway
answer to: To be accountable or responsible to; to account to
answer to: be under the command of somebody, be responsible or report to somebody
answer a challenge: take on a challenge, respond to a dare
answer a letter: respond to a letter, write back
answer back: A transmission from a receiving device to the sending device acknowledging a "message received" or "ready to receive" status
answer back: Allows retrieving a Parked call from any phone Requires a system code to preceed the extension where the call was parked See Call Park
answer back: answer with a sassy tone, reply sarcastically
answer back: A signal or tone sent by a receiving equipment or data set to the sending station to indicate that it is ready to accept transmission Alternatively a signal or tone sent to acknowledge receipt of a transmission
answer back: A signal sent by receiving equipment to the sending station to indicate that the receiver is ready to accept transmission
answer back: An Answer Back (AB) is an electrical and/or visual indication to the calling or sending end that the called or received station is on the line
answer back: If someone, especially a child, answers back, they speak rudely to you when you speak to them. She was punished by teachers for answering back I always answered him back when I thought he was wrong
answer back: A reply message from a terminal, manually or automatically initiated, to verify that the terminal has been addressed and is operational
answer for: If you say that someone has a lot to answer for, you are saying that their actions have led to problems which you think they are responsible for
answer for: If you have to answer for something bad or wrong you have done, you are punished for it. He must be made to answer for his terrible crimes
answer for: be responsible for -, suffer the consequences for -
answer phone: {i} answering maching, mechanical device which records telephone messages
answer signal: ringing heard in a phone receiver when a telephone call is placed
answer the description: fit a description, match the details of a description
answer to a description: fit a description, match the details of a description
answer to a name: respond to a name, reply when a certain name is used
answer with spirit: respond in a lively fashion, respond with enthusiasm
answerable: Proportionate; commensurate; suitable; as, an achievement answerable to the preparation for it
answerable: Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay, indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible; as, an agent is answerable to his principal; to be answerable for a debt, or for damages
Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is answerable only to God? --Swift.
take no for an answer: To accept a disappointing response
answering: respondent
answerable: {a} suitable, accountable, like
answering: {a} replying, vindicating, agreeing
Answerable: responsal
Answerer: someone who responds
a soft answer turneth away wrath: kind words diffuse anger
a soft answer turns away wrath: kind words diffuse anger
answer back: repay
answer back: retort
answer back: riposte
answer back: return
answer back: come back
answer back: rejoin
answerable: possible to answer
answerable: morally or legally responsible to a higher authority; "parents are answerable for their child's acts"
answerable: Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable
answerable: If you are answerable for your actions or for someone else's actions, you are considered to be responsible for them and if necessary must accept punishment for them. He must be made answerable for these terrible crimes. = accountable
answerable: If you are answerable to someone, you have to report to them and explain your actions. Councils should be answerable to the people who elect them
answerable: Equal; equivalent; adequate
answerable: Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory answer
answerable: morally or legally responsible to a higher authority; "parents are answerable for their child's acts" possible to answer
answerable: {s} responsible to, accountable to; able to be answered
answered: past of answer
answerer: a person or thing that answers or responds
answerer: One who answers
answerer: {i} one who answers or replies
answering: replying; "an answering glance"; "an answering smile"
answering: replying; "an answering glance"; "an answering smile
answering: {i} responding, replying
answering: present participle of answer
answers: plural of answer
appropriate answer: fitting response, reply which is suited to the situation
auto answer: condition in which a modem automatically answers incoming calls
concise answer: condensed answer, reply which has been made short and precise
correct answer: correct response, right answer
cut-and-dried answer: clear reply, reply which is very straight and to the point
diplomatic answer: tactful answer, politic answer
direct answer: honest reply, straightforward answer
elusive answer: evasive or deceptive response; hard to find answer or solution to a problem
evasive answer: (law) an answer by a defendant that fails to admit or deny the allegations set forth in the complaint
evasive answer: misleading reply, deceptive response, cagey answer, indirect answer
favorable answer: positive answer, desired response
forthright answer: direct response, straightforward reply
gave him a negative answer: said no to him, answered to the contrary
good answer: (US Slang) that is correct!
got a negative answer: was told "no", received a contrary reply; received an antagonistic reply
had no answer: did not have a solution, had nothing to say, was left speechless
in answer: in response, as a reply
male answer syndrome: {i} MAS, tendency of certain men to answer a question even when they don't know the answer
negative answer: negative reply, answer that is not positive
no answer: no response, no reply
noncommittal answer: answer that does not give a definite "yes" or "no
positive answer: agreement, confirmation, endorsement, approval, saying "yes
satisfactory answer: sufficient response, response that answers the question, answer that fulfills one's wishes
straight answer: honest response, direct answer
take no for an answer: accept a refusal, understand that "no" means "no
unsatisfactory answer: answer that is not satisfactory, response that is not detailed enough
vocal answer: automatic recording of messages, electronic operator which gives out information, vocal answering service
without an answer: with nothing to say, with no reply
won't take no for an answer: will not accept refusal, will not accept a negative reply

answer

Hyphenation

an·swer

Turkish pronunciation

änsır

Synonyms

acknowledgment, antiphon, backcap, back talk, band-aid, close, comeback, comment, cooler, counterclaim, crack, defense, disclosure, echo, elucidation

Antonyms

question, ask

Pronunciation

/ˈansər/ /ˈænsɜr/

Etymology

[ an(t)-s&r ] (noun.) before 12th century. Middle English answere from Old English andswaru from and- "back, against" + swaro, swaru "saying, word". Compare Old English andwyrde "answer", Old English andcwiss "reply".