Meaning of answer in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈænsər/

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  1. Verb

    answer

    Definitions

    1. reply or respond to

    Examples

    • « She didn't want to answer »
    • « answer the question »
    • « We answered that we would accept the invitation »
  2. 2. give the correct answer or solution to

    Examples

    • « answer a question »
    • « answer the riddle »
  3. 3. respond to a signal

    Examples

    • « answer the door »
    • « answer the telephone »
  4. 4. understand the meaning of

    Examples

    • « The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered »
  5. 5. give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)

    Examples

    • « The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution »
  6. 6. be liable or accountable

    Examples

    • « She must answer for her actions »
  7. 7. be sufficient

    Examples

    • « 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 »
  8. 8. match or correspond

    Examples

    • « The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave »
  9. 9. be satisfactory for

    Examples

    • « meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of »
    • « This may answer her needs »
  10. 10. react to a stimulus or command

    Examples

    • « The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch »

  11. Noun

    answer

    Etymology

    Old English andswaru (noun), andswarian (verb), of Germanic origin; from a base shared by swear

    Definitions

    1. a statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

    Examples

    • « I waited several days for his answer »
    • « he wrote replies to several of his critics »
  12. 2. a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem

    Examples

    • « 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 »
  13. 3. the speech act of replying to a question

    Antonyms

  14. 4. the principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint

    Examples

    • « 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 »
  15. 5. a nonverbal reaction

    Examples

    • « his answer to any problem was to get drunk »
    • « their answer was to sue me »