answer
verb/ˈɑːnsə(r)/
/ˈænsər/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they answer | /ˈɑːnsə(r)/ /ˈænsər/ |
| he / she / it answers | /ˈɑːnsəz/ /ˈænsərz/ |
| past simple answered | /ˈɑːnsəd/ /ˈænsərd/ |
| past participle answered | /ˈɑːnsəd/ /ˈænsərd/ |
| -ing form answering | /ˈɑːnsərɪŋ/ /ˈænsərɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to say, write or do something as a reaction to a question or situation synonym reply
- I repeated the question, but she didn't answer.
- Please answer honestly.
- She answered in the affirmative (= said yes).
- answer something You haven't answered my question.
- All you have to do is correctly answer the following questions about geography.
- to answer a letter/an email
- to answer the phone
- to answer the door (= to open the door when somebody knocks/rings)
- We are grateful to all those people who answered our call for help with fundraising.
- My prayers have been answered (= I have got what I wanted).
- He refused to answer the charges against him.
- answer somebody Come on, answer me! Where were you?
- He answered me with a smile.
- + speech ‘I'd prefer to walk,’ she answered.
- answer somebody + speech ‘I'd prefer to walk,’ she answered him.
- answer that… She answered that she would prefer to walk.
- answer somebody that… Bill answered me that he thought it was a good idea.
- answer somebody something Answer me this: how did they know we were here?
Which Word? answer / replyanswer / replyVerbs- Answer and reply are the most common verbs used for speaking or writing as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.
- Note that you answer a person, question or letter, not answer to them, but you reply to somebody or something:
- I’m writing to answer your questions
- I’m writing to reply to your questions.
- I’m writing to answer to your questions.
- Answer can be used with or without an object:
- I haven’t answered her email yet.
- I knocked on the door but nobody answered.
- ‘I won’t let you down,’ he replied.
- Respond is less common and more formal:
- The directors were unwilling to respond to questions.
- You can only answer a door or a phone.
- Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to:
- I’m writing in answer to your letter.
Extra Examples- He answered as truthfully as he could.
- What he told me does not fully answer the question of what his motives were.
- She answered simply, ‘No.’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- affirmatively
- in the affirmative
- in the negative
- …
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- [transitive] answer something/somebody to defend yourself against a charge or criticism
- He was summoned before the council to answer charges of treason.
- With this new album she has answered her critics and shown her true quality.
- [transitive] answer something (formal) to be suitable for something; to match something
- Does this answer your requirements?
- Volunteer teachers definitely answer a need in the region.
Word OriginOld English andswaru (noun), andswarian (verb), of Germanic origin; from a base shared by swear.
Idioms
See answer in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee answer in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishanswer/fit/match a description (of somebody/something)
- to be like a particular person or thing
- A child answering the description of the missing boy was found safe and well in London yesterday.
- We're all looking for quick, healthy meals, and pasta fits this description.
Extra Examples- A man fitting your description was seen entering the building.
- I realized to my horror that the description of the killer could fit me.
- Police have arrested two men matching the descriptions of the robbers.
answer to the name of something
- (especially of a pet animal) to be called something
- The dog was an ugly brute, answering to the name of Spike.
Check pronunciation:
answer