/ ˈɑːnsə(r); NAmE ˈæn-/ noun , verb
■ noun answer (to sth)
1.
something that you say, write or do to react to a question or situation :
I can't easily give an answer to your question.
Have you had an answer to your letter?
As if in answer to our prayers, she offered to lend us £10 000.
I rang the bell, but there was no answer.
She had no answer to the accusations.
2.
something that you write or say in reply to a question in a test, an exam, an exercise, etc.; the correct reply to a question in a test, etc. :
Write your answers on the sheet provided.
Do you know the answer to question 12? (= the right one)
3.
a solution to a problem :
There is no easy answer.
This could be the answer to all our problems.
The obvious answer would be to cancel the party.
4.
a person or thing from one place that may be thought to be as good as a famous person or thing from another place :
The new theme park will be Britain's answer to Disneyland.
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IDIOMS
- have / know all the answers
—more at no exclamation
■ verb
1.
to say, write or do sth as a reaction to a question or situation
SYN reply :
[ v ]
I repeated the question, but she didn't answer.
[ vn ]
You haven't answered my question .
to answer a letter / an advertisement
to answer the phone (= to pick up the phone when it rings)
to answer the door (= to open the door when sb knocks / rings)
My prayers have been answered (= I have got what I wanted) .
He refused to answer the charges against him.
Come on, answer me! Where were you?
He answered me with a smile.
[ v speech ]
'I'd prefer to walk,' she answered.
[ vn speech ]
'I'd prefer to walk,' she answered him.
[ v that ]
She answered that she would prefer to walk.
[ vnn ]
Answer me this: how did they know we were here?
[also vn that ]
2.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to be suitable for sth; to match sth :
Does this answer your requirements?
•
IDIOMS
- answer to the name of sth
—more at description
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- answer back
- answer back | answer sb back
- answer for sth
- answer for sb
- answer to sb (for sth)
••
WHICH WORD
answer / reply
Verbs
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.
Reply is often used with the actual words spoken:
'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.
— see also rejoin , retort , get back to sb
Nouns
Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to :
I'm writing in answer to your letter.
— see also response , rejoinder , retort
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English andswaru (noun), andswarian (verb), of Germanic origin; from a base shared by swear .