Definition

1. Noun:

   • A spoken or written reply to a question, request, or criticism: The act or instance of replying.
   • A solution to a problem or puzzle: Something that resolves a difficulty or explains how to resolve it.
   • A defendant's formal reply to a charge or complaint in a legal proceeding: The principal pleading by the defendant in response to the plaintiff's complaint.

2. Verb:

   • To speak or write in reaction to a question, request, or criticism: To give a reply.
   • To be suitable or adequate for a purpose or need: To meet requirements or serve a function.
   • To correspond or match a description or expectation: To be in agreement with.
   • To be responsible or accountable for something: To accept liability.
   • To react to a signal or stimulus: To respond to a doorbell, telephone, or other summons.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She gave a clear answer to the interviewer's question.
  • The answer to the math problem was 42.
  • The defendant filed his answer with the court.

• Verb:

  • Please answer the email by tomorrow.
  • This tool should answer our needs perfectly.
  • The suspect answers to the description given by the witness.
  • You must answer for your mistakes.
  • Could you answer the phone?

Advanced Usage

• "To have/know all the answers": To be very confident in one's knowledge or opinions, sometimes excessively so.

  • He acts like he has all the answers, but he's often wrong.

• "In answer to": As a response or reaction to something.

  • The law was passed in answer to public demand.

• "Answer to the name of": To be called by a specific name.

  • The lost dog answers to the name of "Rex".

Variants and Related Words

• Answerable (adj): Responsible or accountable to someone for something.

  • Managers are answerable to the board of directors.

• Answerer (n): A person who answers.

  • The quiz show's fastest answerer wins.

• Unanswered (adj): Not replied to or resolved.

  • Many important questions remain unanswered.

Synonyms

• Reply (v/n): To respond or a response.
• Respond (v): To react verbally or in writing.
• Solution (n): A means of solving a problem.
• Retort (v/n): A quick, sharp, or witty reply.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Answer back: To reply rudely or defiantly, especially to someone in authority.

  • Don't you dare answer back to your teacher!

• Answer for:

  • To be responsible or accountable for something.

    • He will have to answer for his actions.
  • To vouch for or guarantee someone's character or behavior.

    • I can answer for her honesty.

• Answer to:

  • To be accountable to a person or authority.

    • The committee answers to the CEO.
  • To correspond to a description.

    • The man answers to the description of the suspect.

Related Idioms

• A straight answer: A direct and honest reply.

  • I just want a straight answer to a simple question.

• The answer to someone's prayers: Exactly what someone wanted or needed.

  • The scholarship was the answer to her prayers.

Noun

1. a nonverbal reaction
   • his answer to any problem was to get drunk
   • their answer was to sue me
2. 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
3. the speech act of replying to a question
4. 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
5. 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
   • he wrote replies to several of his critics

Verb

1. react to a stimulus or command
   • The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch
2. be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
   • This may answer her needs
3. match or correspond
   • The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave
4. 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
5. be liable or accountable
   • She must answer for her actions
6. give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
   • The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution
7. understand the meaning of
   • The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered
8. give the correct answer or solution to
   • answer a question
   • answer the riddle
9. respond to a signal
   • answer the door
   • answer the telephone
10. react verbally
    • She didn't want to answer
    • answer the question
    • We answered that we would accept the invitation