answer

noun

UK /ˈɑːnsə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	answer
plural	answers

1
countable/uncountable a spoken reply to a question
It was a tough question, but Ginny had her answer ready.
answer to:
The answer to your question is yes.
give someone an answer:
I’ll give you a definite answer tomorrow.
in answer to:
In answer to your question, no he is not married.
Synonyms and related words
Answers
answer
reply
response
1. 1a
  countable a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement
  I wrote to her in May but I never got an answer.
  Synonyms and related words
  Letters and types of letter
  acknowledgment
  air letter
  a letter/message/book of condolence
2
singular a situation in which someone comes to the door when you call at their house or picks up the phone when you ring them
I tried calling her again, but there was still no answer.
get no answer:
Ring the doorbell and if you get no answer, knock on the window.
Synonyms and related words
Reactions and ways of responding
reaction
response
reply
3
countable a spoken or written reply to a question in a test or competition
Write your answers in the space provided.
I’m sorry, but ‘Paris’ is the wrong answer.
get the answer right/wrong:
You got all the answers right.
Synonyms and related words
Answers
answer
reply
response
1. 3a
  the correct reply to a question in a test or competition
  All answers are printed in the back of the book.
  answer to:
  Do you know the answer to question 10?
  Synonyms and related words
  Answers
  answer
  reply
  response
4
countable a way of solving or dealing with a problem
If you can’t afford a decorator, the obvious answer is to do it yourself.
answer to:
There are no easy answers to this crisis.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of solving problems
solution
compromise
remedy
5
have/know all the answers
to be very sure that you know everything about a situation, especially when you do notSubmitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 29/11/2015
Open Dictionary - November2015

phrases

something’s answer to

answer

noun

US /ˈænsər/

Word Forms

singular	answer
plural	answers

1
countable/uncountable a spoken reply to a question
It was a tough question, but Ginny had her answer ready.
answer to:
The answer to your question is yes.
give someone an answer:
I’ll give you a definite answer tomorrow.
in answer to:
In answer to your inquiry, no he is not married.
Synonyms and related words
Answers
answer
reply
response
1. 1a
  countable a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement
  I wrote to her in May but I never got an answer.
  Synonyms and related words
  Letters and types of letter
  acknowledgment
  air letter
  a letter/message/book of condolence
2
singular a situation in which someone comes to the door when you go to their house or picks up the phone when you call them
I tried calling her again, but there was still no answer.
get no answer:
Ring the doorbell and if you get no answer, knock on the window.
Synonyms and related words
Reactions and ways of responding
reaction
response
reply
3
countable a spoken or written reply to a question in a test or competition
Write your answers in the space provided.
I’m sorry, but “Paris” is the wrong answer.
get the answer right/wrong:
You got all the answers right.
Synonyms and related words
Answers
answer
reply
response
1. 3a
  the correct reply to a question in a test or competition
  All answers are printed in the back of the book.
  answer to:
  Do you know the answer to question 10?
  Synonyms and related words
  Answers
  answer
  reply
  response
4
countable a way of solving or dealing with a problem
If you can’t afford a decorator, the obvious answer is to fix it yourself.
answer to:
There are no easy answers to this crisis.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of solving problems
solution
compromise
remedy
5
have/know all the answers
to be very sure that you know everything about a situation, especially when you do notSubmitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 29/11/2015
Open Dictionary - November2015

phrases

something’s answer to

answer

verb

UK /ˈɑːnsə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	answer
he/she/it	answers
present participle	answering
past tense	answered
past participle	answered

1
intransitive/transitive to give a spoken reply to a question
I’m still waiting for you to answer.
I want you to answer one simple question.
‘I don’t know,’ she answered truthfully.
What’s the matter? Answer me!
answer that:
I could only answer that I’d seen them leaving together.
Synonyms and related words
To reply or to answer
reply
answer
respond
1. 1a
  transitive to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement
  She answered an advertisement asking for models.
  Synonyms and related words
  To reply or to answer
  reply
  answer
  respond
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive to come to the door when someone calls at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings
  I knocked and a young man answered the door.
  The phone rang and rang but she couldn’t bring herself to answer it.
  Synonyms and related words
  To visit a person or place, or to be visited by someone
  visit
  go around
  call
  Synonyms and related words
  Using a telephone
  answer
  busy
  call
2
intransitive/transitive to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition
Answer one question from each section.
answer correctly/incorrectly:
Not everyone answered correctly.
Synonyms and related words
To reply or to answer
reply
answer
respond
3
transitive to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something
answer charges/criticisms:
How would you answer charges that your company puts profit before safety?
The Prime Minister made no attempt to answer their criticisms.
Synonyms and related words
To give a reason or excuse for something
explain
argue
excuse
4
transitive to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for, especially in order to deal with a bad situation
Their request for help was answered by the Red Cross.
answer a need:
The estate was built to answer a need for low-cost housing.
answer someone’s prayers:
When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered.
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip
5
intransitive/transitive to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done
answer (something) with something:
He answered her look with a smile.
be answered by something:
The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.
Synonyms and related words
To react to something
react
stand up
respond

phrases

answer the description of

phrasal verbs

answer back

answer for

answer to

answer

verb

US /ˈænsər/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	answer
he/she/it	answers
present participle	answering
past tense	answered
past participle	answered

1
intransitive/transitive to give a spoken reply to a question
I want you to answer one simple question.
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully.
I’m still waiting for you to answer.
What’s the matter? Answer me!
answer that:
I could only answer that I’d seen them leaving together.
Synonyms and related words
To reply or to answer
reply
answer
respond
1. 1a
  transitive to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement
  She answered an advertisement asking for models.
  Synonyms and related words
  To reply or to answer
  reply
  answer
  respond
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive to come to the door when someone arrives at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings
  I knocked and a young man answered the door.
  The phone rang and rang but she couldn’t bring herself to answer it.
  Synonyms and related words
  To visit a person or place, or to be visited by someone
  visit
  go around
  call
  Synonyms and related words
  Using a telephone
  answer
  busy
  busy signal
2
intransitive/transitive to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition
Answer one question from each section.
answer correctly/incorrectly:
Not everyone answered correctly.
Synonyms and related words
To reply or to answer
reply
answer
respond
3
transitive to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something
answer charges/criticisms:
How would you answer charges that your company puts profit before safety?
The president made no attempt to answer their criticisms.
Synonyms and related words
To give a reason or excuse for something
explain
argue
excuse
4
transitive to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for, especially in order to deal with a bad situation
Their request for help was answered by the Red Cross.
answer a need:
The development was built to answer a need for low-cost housing.
answer someone’s prayers:
When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered.
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip
5
intransitive/transitive to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done
answer (something) with something:
He answered her look with a smile.
be answered by something:
The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.
Synonyms and related words
To react to something
react
stand up
respond

phrases

answer the description of

phrasal verbs

answer back

answer for

answer to

answer ​‌‌‌

have/know all the answers

answer ​‌‌‌

have/know all the answers

answer ​‌‌‌

answer ​‌‌‌

answer

answer

answer

answer