- an act of replying to something/somebody in speech, writing or by some action
- I asked her what her name was but she made no reply.
- I received a reply from the firm's managing director.
- reply to something I got some interesting replies to my post about online banking.
- in reply to something (formal) I am writing in reply to your letter of 16 March.
- (British English) a reply-paid envelope (= on which you do not have to put a stamp because it has already been paid for)
- without reply (British English) Morocco scored four goals without reply to win the game.
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- ‘I'm in here!’ came the muffled reply.
- ‘Mmm!’ she grunted in reply.
- ‘No comment’ is his standard reply to most questions.
- ‘No!’ came the reply.
- When I checked my emails that evening, there were more than ten replies in my inbox.
- A reply came back the next day.
- Grace could offer no reply.
- Have you had a reply to your letter yet?
- He made no reply, but simply walked away.
- Her reply was simple. ‘No,’ she said.
- His reply was short and to the point.
- I am grateful to you for having given me a right of reply to the article in your magazine about my company.
- I am writing in reply to your request for information on holidays in Italy.
- I await your reply with interest.
- I'll post the replies later on my web page.
- It's easy to just hit the reply button.
- Many thanks for your thoughtful reply, we greatly appreciate it.
- No reply seemed to be forthcoming.
- Please complete the reply card and return it to us as soon as possible.
- She heard no reply.
- She refused to give a straight reply, deciding rather to defer the question.
- The questionnaire produced 9 000 replies.
- The report elicited a formal reply from the department.
- They waited patiently for a reply but none seemed to be forthcoming.
- What did they say in reply?
- a reply from the minister
- my reply to your query
- He muttered a reply but I couldn't understand what he said.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- monosyllabic
- blunt
- …
- get
- have
- receive
- …
- come
- come back
- be forthcoming
- …
- card
- envelope
- form
- …
- in reply (to something)
- reply from
- reply to
- …
- a/the right of reply
Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): from Old French replier, from Latin replicare ‘repeat’, later ‘make a reply’, from re- ‘back, again’ + plicare ‘to fold’.Want to learn more?
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reply