answer

Plural: answers

Noun

• 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"
• a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
  • "the answers were in the back of the book"
• the speech act of replying to a question
• 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 nonverbal reaction
  • "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"
  • "their answer was to sue me"
• A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
• A solution to a problem.
• Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.
• A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.

Verb

Verb Forms: answered, answering, answers

• To respond to a question, statement, or situation.
• react verbally
  • "She didn't want to answer"
  • "answer the question"
  • "We answered that we would accept the invitation"
• respond to a signal
  • "answer the door"
  • "answer the telephone"
• give the correct answer or solution to
  • "answer a question"
  • "answer the riddle"
• understand the meaning of
  • "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
• give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
  • "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"
• be liable or accountable
  • "She must answer for her actions"
• be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
  • "A few words would answer"
• match or correspond
  • "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"
• be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
  • "This may answer her needs"
• react to a stimulus or command
  • "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"
• To make a reply or response to.
• To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
• To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
• To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
• To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
• To file a document in response to a complaint.
• To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
• To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
• To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
• To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
• To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
• To render account to or for.
• To atone for; to be punished for.
• To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

Examples

• He answered my claim upon him.
• He answered the question.
• He has a lot to answer for.
• Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
• It answers the need.
• Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
• She answered the door.
• She would answer his high-scoring play with an even better one.
• The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
• The servant answered the bell.
• There is no simple answer to corruption.
• to answer a charge or accusation
• Violence is not the answer to disagreements.

Synonyms

do, reply, resolution, resolve, respond, response, result, serve, solution, solvent, suffice, answer for

Antonyms

question

Related Words

ask, question