answer

an·swer

A0324000 (ăn′sər)n.1. a. A spoken or written reply, as to a question.b. A correct reply.2. a. A solution, as to a problem.b. A correct solution.3. An act in response or retaliation: Our only possible answer was to sue.4. Something markedly similar to another of the same class: cable TV's answer to the commercial networks' sportscasts.5. Law A defendant's response to the allegations against him or her.v. an·swered, an·swer·ing, an·swers v.intr.1. To speak or write as a return, as to a question.2. To act in response: Their team scored, but our team answered with a quick goal. 3. To be liable or accountable: You must answer for your actions to your supervisor. 4. To serve the purpose; suffice: "Often I do use three words where one would answer" (Mark Twain).5. To correspond; match: I found a dog answering to that description.v.tr.1. a. To speak or write in response to: answer a question.b. To say or write in reply: He answered that he was unable to join us.c. To argue in defense of oneself against (an accusation or charge).2. To act in response to: The police answered the call for help. The soldiers answered the attack.3. To be sufficient for (a need, for instance); fulfill: "My fortune has answered my desires" (Izaak Walton).4. To conform or correspond to: The suspect answers the description given by the police.

[Middle English answere, from Old English andswaru; see swer- in Indo-European roots.]Synonyms: answer, respond, reply, retort¹
These verbs relate to action taken in return to a stimulus. Answer, respond, and reply, the most general, all mean to speak, write, or act in response: Please answer my question. Did you expect the president to respond personally to your letter? The opposing team scored three runs; the home team replied with two of their own. Respond also denotes a reaction, either voluntary (A bystander responded to the victim's need for help) or involuntary (She responded in spite of herself to the antics of the puppy). To retort is to answer verbally in a quick, caustic, or witty manner: She won the debate by retorting sharply to her opponent's questions. See Also Synonyms at satisfy.

answer

(ˈɑːnsə) n1. a reply, either spoken or written, as to a question, request, letter, or article2. a reaction or response in the form of an action: drunkenness was his answer to disappointment. 3. a solution, esp of a mathematical problem4. (Law) law a. a party's written reply to his opponent's interrogatoriesb. (in divorce law) the respondent's written reply to the petition5. (Classical Music) a musical phrase that follows the subject of a fugue, reproducing it a fifth higher or a fourth lowervb6. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to reply or respond (to) by word or act: to answer a question; he answered; to answer the door; he answered that he would come. 7. (tr) to reply correctly to; solve or attempt to solve: I could answer only three questions. 8. (usually foll by: to) to respond or react (to a stimulus, command, etc): the steering answers to the slightest touch. 9. (tr) to pay off (a debt, obligation, etc); discharge10. (when intr, often foll by : for) to meet the requirements (of); be satisfactory (for); serve the purpose (of): this will answer his needs; this will answer for a chisel. 11. (when intr, often foll by : to) to match or correspond (esp in the phrase answer (or answer to) the description)12. (tr) to give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)[Old English andswaru an answer; related to Old Frisian ondser, Old Norse andsvar; see swear]

an•swer

(ˈæn sər, ˈɑn-)

n. 1. a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc. 2. a correct response to a question. 3. an equivalent or approximation; counterpart: the French answer to the Beatles. 4. an action serving as a reply or response: The answer was a volley of fire. 5. a solution to a problem, esp. in mathematics. 6. a reply to a charge or accusation. 7. the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's charge. v.i. 8. to speak or write in response; make answer; reply. 9. to respond by an act or motion: He answered with a right to the jaw. 10. to act or suffer in consequence (usu. fol. by for). 11. to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usu. fol. by for): I will answer for his safety. 12. to be satisfactory or serve (usu. fol. by for). 13. to conform; correspond (usu. fol. by to): She answered to the description. v.t. 14. to speak or write in response to; reply to. 15. to act or move in response to: Answer the doorbell. 16. to solve or present a solution of. 17. to serve or fulfill: This will answer the purpose. 18. to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.). 19. to conform or correspond to: This dog answers your description. 20. to reply or respond favorably to: to answer a request. 21. to atone for; make amends for. 22. answer back, to reply impertinently. [before 900; Middle English andswerien, Old English andswerian, andswarian, derivative of andswaru an answer =and- opposite, facing (compare and, along) + Germanic *swarō, derivative of swear] an′swer•er, n. an′swer•less, adj. syn: answer, reply, response, rejoinder, retort all refer to words used to meet a question, proposal, charge, etc. An answer is something said or written in return: an answer giving the desired information. A reply is usu. somewhat more formal or detailed: a courteous reply to a letter. A response is often a reaction to an appeal, suggestion, etc.: an enthusiastic response to a plea for cooperation. A rejoinder is a quick, usu. clever answer to another person's reply or comment: a rejoinder that silenced the opposition. A retort is a keen, prompt answer, usu. to a charge or criticism: The false accusation provoked a sharp retort.

answer

1. used as a verb

When you answer someone who has asked you a question, you say something back to them. You can either say that someone answers a person or that they answer a question.

I didn't know how to answer her.I tried my best to answer her questions.

Be Careful!
You don't 'answer to' someone who has asked you a question, or 'answer to' their question.

2. used as a noun

An answer is something that you say to someone when they have asked you a question.

'Is there anyone here?' I asked. There was no answer.

An answer to a problem is a possible solution to it.

At first it seemed like the answer to all my problems.

Be Careful!
Don't talk about an 'answer for' a problem.

answer

Past participle: answered
Gerund: answering

Imperative
answer
answer

Present
I answer
you answer
he/she/it answers
we answer
you answer
they answer

Preterite
I answered
you answered
he/she/it answered
we answered
you answered
they answered

Present Continuous
I am answering
you are answering
he/she/it is answering
we are answering
you are answering
they are answering

Present Perfect
I have answered
you have answered
he/she/it has answered
we have answered
you have answered
they have answered

Past Continuous
I was answering
you were answering
he/she/it was answering
we were answering
you were answering
they were answering

Past Perfect
I had answered
you had answered
he/she/it had answered
we had answered
you had answered
they had answered

Future
I will answer
you will answer
he/she/it will answer
we will answer
you will answer
they will answer

Future Perfect
I will have answered
you will have answered
he/she/it will have answered
we will have answered
you will have answered
they will have answered

Future Continuous
I will be answering
you will be answering
he/she/it will be answering
we will be answering
you will be answering
they will be answering

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been answering
you have been answering
he/she/it has been answering
we have been answering
you have been answering
they have been answering

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been answering
you will have been answering
he/she/it will have been answering
we will have been answering
you will have been answering
they will have been answering

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been answering
you had been answering
he/she/it had been answering
we had been answering
you had been answering
they had been answering

Conditional
I would answer
you would answer
he/she/it would answer
we would answer
you would answer
they would answer

Past Conditional
I would have answered
you would have answered
he/she/it would have answered
we would have answered
you would have answered
they would have answered

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	answer - a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation; "I waited several days for his answer"; "he wrote replies to several of his critics"reply, responsestatement - a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc; "according to his statement he was in London on that day"rescript - a reply by a Pope to an inquiry concerning a point of law or moralityfeedback - response to an inquiry or experiment
	2.	answer - a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem; "they were trying to find a peaceful solution"; "the answers were in the back of the book"; "he computed the result to four decimal places"result, solution, solvent, resolutionstatement - a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc; "according to his statement he was in London on that day"denouement - the final resolution of the main complication of a literary or dramatic work
	3.	answer - the speech act of replying to a questionreply, response - the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange; "he growled his reply"Urim and Thummim - lots thrown to determine God's answers to yes-no questionsrefutation, defence, defense - the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it"enquiry, query, question, inquiry, interrogation - an instance of questioning; "there was a question about my training"; "we made inquiries of all those who were present"
	4.	answer - the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaimspleading - (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceedingevasive answer - (law) an answer by a defendant that fails to admit or deny the allegations set forth in the complaintnolo contendere, non vult - (law) an answer of `no contest' by a defendant who does not admit guilt but that subjects him to convictionplea - (law) a defendant's answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer)law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
	5.	answer - a nonverbal reaction; "his answer to any problem was to get drunk"; "their answer was to sue me"response, reaction - a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent; "a bad reaction to the medicine"; "his responses have slowed with age"
Verb	1.	answer - react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation"reply, respondcall back - return or repeat a telephone call; "I am busy right now--can you call back in an hour?"; "She left a message but the contractor never called back"counter - speak in response; "He countered with some very persuasive arguments"field - answer adequately or successfully; "The lawyer fielded all questions from the press"sass - answer back in an impudent or insolent manner; "don't sass me!"; "The teacher punished the students who were sassing all morning";retort, rejoin, riposte, come back, repay, return - answer backsay, state, tell - express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"bridle - respond to the reins, as of horses
	2.	answer - respond to a signal; "answer the door"; "answer the telephone"react, respond - show a response or a reaction to something
	3.	answer - give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle"figure out, puzzle out, solve, lick, work out, work - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem"
	4.	answer - understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"resolvefigure out, puzzle out, solve, lick, work out, work - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem"
	5.	answer - give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"rebut, refute - overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; "The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments"
	6.	answer - be liable or accountable; "She must answer for her actions"be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer"
	7.	answer - be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve"suffice, do, servebridge over, tide over, keep going - suffice for a period between two points; "This money will keep us going for another year"go a long way - suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extentserve, function - serve a purpose, role, or function; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"live up to, satisfy, fulfill, fulfil - meet the requirements or expectations ofmeasure up, qualify - prove capable or fit; meet requirementsgo around - be sufficient; "There's not enough to go around"
	8.	answer - match or correspond; "The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"correspond, gibe, jibe, match, tally, agree, fit, check - be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun"
	9.	answer - be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of; "This may answer her needs"fulfil, fulfill, satisfy, meet, fill - fill or meet a want or need
	10.	answer - react to a stimulus or command; "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"react, respond - show a response or a reaction to something

answer

verb1. reply, explain, respond, resolve, acknowledge, react, return, retort, rejoin, refute He paused before answering.
reply ask, question, query, inquire, interrogate2. acknowledge, respond to, react to, reply to, write back to Did he answer your letter?3. pick up, get, respond to She answered her phone on the first ring.4. satisfy, meet, serve, fit, fill, suit, solve, fulfil, suffice, measure up to We must ensure we answer real needs.5. fit, meet, match, agree to, conform to, correspond to, correlate to two men answering the description of the suspects6. defend yourself against, refute, rebut He will appear in court to answer charges of trying to hide money.noun1. reply, response, reaction, resolution, explanation, plea, comeback, retort, report, return, defence, acknowledgement, riposte, counterattack, refutation, rejoinder Without waiting for an answer, he turned and went in.
reply question, inquiry, query, interrogation2. solution, resolution, explanation Simply marking an answer wrong will not help the student.3. remedy, solution, vindication Prison is not the answer for most young offenders.4. defence, response, reply, rebuttal, counter-statement In answer to the speculation, she boldly declared her intention.answer for something1. be responsible for, be to blame for, be liable for, be accountable for, take the rap for (slang), be answerable for, be chargeable for That child's mother has a lot to answer for.2. pay for, suffer for, atone for, make amends for He must be made to answer for his terrible crimes.answer someone back be impertinent, argue, dispute, disagree, retort, contradict, rebut, talk back, be cheeky I always answered my parents back when I thought they were wrong.answer to someone be responsible to, obey, work under, be ruled by, be managed by, be subordinate to, be accountable to, be answerable to He answers to a boss he has met once in 18 months.

answer

noun1. Something spoken or written in return, as to a question or demand:rejoinder, reply, response.2. Something worked out to explain, resolve, or provide a method for dealing with and settling a problem:determination, solution.Mathematics: result.verb1. To speak or act in response, as to a question:rejoin, reply, respond, retort, return, riposte.2. To meet a need or requirement:do, serve, suffice, suit.3. To supply fully or completely:fill, fulfill, meet, satisfy.

Translations

回答答案應答满足符合

answer

(ˈaːnsə) noun1. something said, written or done that is caused by a question etc from another person. She refused to give an answer to his questions.回答2. the solution to a problem. The answer to your transport difficulties is to buy a car.答案 verb1. to make an answer to a question, problem, action etc. Answer my questions, please; Why don't you answer the letter?回答2. to open (the door), pick up (the telephone) etc in reponse to a knock, ring etc. He answered the telephone as soon as it rang; Could you answer the door, please?應答3. to be suitable or all that is necessary (for). This will answer my requirements.满足4. (often with to) to be the same as or correspond to (a description etc). The police have found a man answering (to) that description.符合ˈanswerable adjective (usually with to, ~for) to have the responsibility. I will be answerable to you for his good behaviour; She is answerable for the whole project.應負責任的ˈanswering ˌmachine noun (also machine) a machine that take messages for you when you cannot answer the phone. to leave a message on the answering machine.自動應答錄音電話機answer for1. (often with to) to bear the responsibility or be responsible for (something). I'll answer to your mother for your safety.負責2. to suffer or be punished (for something). You'll answer for your rudeness one day! 对…负责，因…而受责备 ˈanswerphone noun = answering machine. 应答机

answer

→ 回答zhCN, 答案zhCN

Could you text me your answer? (US)
Can you text me your answer? (UK) → 请发手机信息告诉我您的回答

Answer

The first responsive pleading filed by the defendant in a civil action; a formal written statement that admits or denies the allegations in the complaint and sets forth any available affirmative defenses.

The answer gives the plaintiff notice of the issues the defendant will raise as the case progresses and enables the plaintiff to adequately prepare a case. In most jurisdictions, the answer must be filed within twenty days after receipt of the summons and complaint, although local rules and customs may dictate different filing times.

The answer begins with a caption, which identifies the location of the action, the court, the docket or file number (assigned by the court), and the title of the case (comprising the names of the parties, e.g., Smith v. Jones). Following the caption, the main body of the answer sets forth admissions or denials that respond to each allegation made in the complaint. In federal court and in jurisdictions that follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, denials must be unambiguous and stated in concise language that clearly identifies the allegations being denied (Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b)). For example, if the complaint alleges that the defendant was driving an automobile that struck the plaintiff on Addison Street in Chicago on March 11, an answer stating that the defendant was in Milwaukee on March 11 is unclear and ambiguous because it avoids the question of whether the defendant was also in Chicago at a different time on the same day.

The answer may plead any form of denial that is truthful and made in Good Faith. Although general denials that deny the truth of every fact in the complaint or of every element of a charge are sometimes used, they are not considered a sufficient response. Courts discourage general denials because they fail to respond to specific allegations and do not give the plaintiff sufficient basis to prepare a case. If the defendant lacks the knowledge or information needed to respond to the truth or falsity of a charge, rule 8(b) and similar rules in other jurisdictions allow the defendant to state such in the answer. This has the effect of a denial (rule 8(b)). If the defendant fails to respond to an allegation by either denying it or by stating he or she does not have the information necessary to admit or deny it, it is considered admitted under rule 8(d).

Following the admissions and denials, the answer outlines any affirmative defenses available to the defendant. Affirmative defenses, which are grounded in Substantive Law, state that an allegation may or may not be true, but that even if it is true, the law provides a legal defense that defeats the plaintiff's claim. The defendant must determine if the law allows an affirmative defense to a charge, and must allege sufficient facts to support the defense. For example, in a Negligence action, the defendant might respond to an allegation that a duty of care was owed to the plaintiff by stating that, even if the allegation is true, the plaintiff assumed the risk of the activity that led to the injury. The defendant must then state the facts that support the defense. It is critical to the defendant's case that all applicable affirmative defenses are asserted. In most jurisdictions, affirmative defenses not raised in a timely manner in the defendant's responsive Pleading are deemed to have been waived.

The answer, like the complaint, ends with a "wherefore" clause that summarizes the defendant's demands, such as demands for a jury trial and judgment in the defendant's favor. Only one wherefore clause is generally needed, although local practice may dictate that each denial and each affirmative defense have its own wherefore clause.

Counterclaims and cross-claims sometimes appear in the answer. A counterclaim arises when the defendant's response includes a claim against the plaintiff. A counterclaim may come from the same circumstances as the plaintiff's claim or from a different set of facts. A cross-claim may be filed when one party to a suit charges another party with responsibility for the plaintiff's injuries or damages. Under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure rule 13(g), a cross-claim must arise out of "the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter either of the original action or of a counterclaim therein or relating to any property that is the subject matter of the original action." A cross-claim may also be filed separately from the answer. Because counterclaims and cross-claims raise new issues and initiate a separate Cause of Action, they must meet the procedural requirements of a complaint.

Cross-references

Civil Procedure.

answer

n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant to respond to a complaint in a lawsuit filed and served upon that defendant. An answer generally responds to each allegation in the complaint by denying or admitting it, or admitting in part and denying in part. The answer may also comprise "affirmative defenses" including allegations which contradict the complaint or contain legal theories (like "unclean hands," "contributory negligence" or "anticipatory breach") which are intended to derail the claims in the complaint. Sometimes the answer is in the form of a "general denial," denying everything. The answer must be in typed form, follow specific rules of pleading established by law and the courts, and be filed with the court and served on the defendant within a specific statutory time (e.g. 30 days after service of the complaint). If the complaint is verified as under penalty of perjury, the answer must be also. There is a fairly steep filing fee for each defendant filing an answer. In short, if served a complaint, one should see a lawyer as soon as possible to prevent a default judgment. (See: complaint, general denial, verification, demurrer)

ANSWER, pleading in equity. A defence in writing made by a defendant, to thecharges contained in a bill or information, filed by the plaintiff againsthim in a court of equity. The word answer involves a double sense; it is onething when it simply replies to a question, another when it meets a charge;the answer in equity includes both senses, and may be divided into anexamination and a defence. In that part which consists of an examination, adirect and full answer, or reply, must in general be given to every questionasked. In that part which consists of a defence, the defendant must statehis, case distinctly; but is not required to give information respecting theproofs that are to maintain it. Gresl. Eq. Ev. 19.
2. As a defendant is called by a bill or information to make adiscovery of the several charges it contains, he must do so, unless he isprotected either by a demurrer a plea or disclaimer. It may be laid down asan invariable rule, that whatever part of a bill or information is notcovered by one of these, must be defended by answer. Redesd. Tr. Ch. Pl.244.
3. In form, it usually begins, 1st, with its title, specifying which ofthe defendants it is the answer of, and the names of the plaintiffs in thecause in which it is filed as answer; 2d, it reserves to the defendant allthe advantages which might be taken by exception to the bill; 3d, thesubstance of the answer, according to the defendant's knowledge,remembrance, information and belief, then follows, in which the matter ofthe bill, with the interrogatories founded thereon, are answered, one afterthe other, together with such additional matter as the defendant thinksnecessary to bring forward in his, defence, either for the purpose ofqualifying, or adding to, the case made by the bill, or to state a new caseon his own behalf; 4th, this is followed by a general traverse or denial ofall unlawful combinations charged in the bill, and of all other matterstherein contained 5th, the answer is always upon oath or affirmation, exceptin the case of a corporation, in which case it is under the corporate seal.
4. In substance, the answer ought to contain, 1st, a statement of factsand not arguments 2d, a confession and avoidance, or traverse and denial ofthe material parts of the bill 3d, its language ought to be direct andwithout evasion. Vide generally as to answers, Redes. Tr. Ch. Pl. 244 to254; Coop. Pl. Eq. 312 to 327; Beames Pl. Eq. 34 et seq.; Bouv. Inst. Index,h.t. For an historical account of this instrument, see 2 Bro. Civ. Law,371, n. and Barton's Hist. Treatise of a Suit in Equity.

ANSWER, practice. The declaration of a fact by a witness after a questionhas been put asking for it.
2. If a witness unexpectedly state facts against the interest of theparty calling him, other witnesses may be called by the same party, todisprove those facts. But the party calling a witness cannot discredit him,by calling witnesses to prove his bad character for truth and veracity, orby proving that he has made statements out of court contrary to what he hassworn on the trial; B. N. P.; for the production of the witness is virtuallyan assertion by the party producing him, that he is credible.

answer

an·swer

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Further readings

Cross-references

answer

Answer

Answer

ANSWER

answer

Synonyms for answer

verb reply

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Antonyms

verb acknowledge

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verb pick up

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verb satisfy

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verb fit

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verb defend yourself against

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noun reply

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Antonyms

noun solution

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noun remedy

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noun defence

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phrase answer for something: be responsible for

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phrase answer for something: pay for

Synonyms

phrase answer someone back

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phrase answer to someone

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Synonyms for answer

noun something spoken or written in return, as to a question or demand

Synonyms

noun something worked out to explain, resolve, or provide a method for dealing with and settling a problem

Synonyms

verb to speak or act in response, as to a question

Synonyms

verb to meet a need or requirement

Synonyms

verb to supply fully or completely

Synonyms

Synonyms for answer

noun a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

Synonyms

Related Words

noun a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem

Synonyms

Related Words

noun the speech act of replying to a question

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Antonyms

noun the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint

Related Words

noun a nonverbal reaction

Related Words

verb react verbally

Synonyms