/ rɪˈplaɪ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( re·plies , re·ply·ing , re·plied , re·plied ) reply (to sb/sth) (with sth)
1.
to say or write sth as an answer to sb/sth :
[ v ]
to reply to a question / an advertisement
He never replied to any of my letters.
She only replied with a smile.
[ v speech ]
'I won't let you down,' he replied confidently.
[ v that ]
The senator replied that he was not in a position to comment.
➡ note at answer
2.
[ v ] reply (to sth) (with sth) to do sth as a reaction to sth that sb has said or done :
The terrorists replied to the government's statement with more violence.
■ noun
[ C , U ] an act of replying to sth/sb in speech, writing or by some action :
We had over 100 replies to our advertisement.
I asked her what her name was but she made no reply .
( formal )
I am writing in reply to your letter of 16 March.
( BrE )
a reply-paid envelope (= on which you do not have to put a stamp because it has already been paid for)
( BrE )
Morocco scored four goals without reply to win the game.
➡ note at answer
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French replier , from Latin replicare repeat, later make a reply, from re- back, again + plicare to fold.