answernoun [ C ]
uk/ˈɑːn.sər/us/ˈæn.sɚ/answer noun [ C ] (REACTION)
A1 a reaction to a question, letter, phone call, etc.:
The minister promised to give a written answer to the MP's detailed question.
We've emailed him asking him if he's free on that date but we haven't had an answer yet.
I've just called him but there was no answer.
I didn't realize we had to write each answer on a new sheet of paper.
I got eight correct answers and two wrong ones in last week's exam.
In answer to your letter of 30 May, I am writing to accept your offer of £3,575 in compensation.
More examples
- We need a definite answer by tomorrow.
- Can you figure out the answer to question 5?
- I'd like you to give me an honest answer.
- I'll think it over and give you an answer next week.
- The public has a right to expect truthful answers from politicians.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Answering & responding
- acknowledgment
- and the same to you with (brass) knobs on idiom
- answer back
- back
- counter
- counterattack
- counterblast
- defensive
- fifth
- get
- get back to sb
- give
- I take/plead the Fifth (Amendment) idiom
- rejoin
- rejoinder
- reply
- respond
- respondent
- thank you
- unanswered
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answer noun [ C ] (SOLUTION)
B1 a solution to a problem:
It's a difficult situation and I don't know what the answer is.
There's no easy answer to the problem.
More examples
- I spent hours doing that calculation and I still got the answer wrong.
- Surely the answer's obvious - or are you being deliberately obtuse?
- You got 20 percent of the answers right - that means one in every five.
- You'll never guess the answer - do you give in?
- His nimble mind calculated the answer before I could key the numbers into my computer.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Solving and solutions
- antidote
- band-aid solution
- be at the bottom of sth idiom
- clear (sth) up
- clue
- conquer
- conquerable
- fall
- figure
- iron sth out
- kill or cure idiom
- lateral thinking
- magic wand
- modus vivendi
- result
- round
- solution
- talk sth out
- work through sth
- workaround
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Idiom(s)
sb's answer to sb/sth
answerverb
uk/ˈɑːn.sər/us/ˈæn.sɚ/answer verb (REACT)
A1 [ I or T ] to say, write, or do something as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.:
I can't answer (you) without more detailed information.
You haven't answered my question.
I texted asking whether he'd be coming to the party but he hasn't answered yet.
[ + speech ] "I'd love to have dinner with you, but I won't be able to get there before nine o'clock," she answered.
[ + that ] She answered that she wouldn't be able to come before nine o'clock.
formal Does anyone here answer to the name of (= is anyone here called) Wallis?
A2 [ I or T ] to open the door to someone or pick up the phone:
Someone's at the door - would you answer it, please?
I phoned last night but nobody answered.
More examples
- I went downstairs to answer the phone.
- Candidates must answer two questions from each paper.
- Students are advised to answer all questions as fully as possible.
- When no one answered the door, she peered through the window to see if anyone was there.
- She spent the morning reading and answering her mail.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Answering & responding
- acknowledgment
- and the same to you with (brass) knobs on idiom
- answer back
- back
- counter
- counterattack
- counterblast
- defensive
- fifth
- get
- get back to sb
- give
- I take/plead the Fifth (Amendment) idiom
- rejoin
- rejoinder
- reply
- respond
- respondent
- thank you
- unanswered
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answer verb (BE SUITABLE FOR)
[ T ] to be suitable for and satisfy someone's needs:
He showed me some software that answered my requirements exactly.
I've got some furniture in the attic that I think might answer your needs.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Being suitable or unsuitable
- age-barred
- be made for sb/sth idiom
- become
- befit
- behove
- bill
- do 1
- fill/fit the bill idiom
- find your own level idiom
- fit
- fit in
- fit the bill idiom
- go
- lend
- make
- order
- out of order idiom
- part
- suit sb (right) down to the ground idiom
- unworthy
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answer verb (MATCH)
[ I or T ] also answer to to match a description:
A woman who answers to the suspect's description was seen in the area on the night of the crime.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Being or appearing similar or the same
- a passing resemblance idiom
- agree
- ballpark
- be in good company idiom
- be in the same ballpark idiom
- be nothing/not much/very little in it idiom
- be two of a kind idiom
- company
- equalize
- equalizer
- even
- even (sth) out
- flatline
- homologous
- homologous series
- in line with sth idiom
- line
- match
- match up
- tally
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Phrasal verb(s)
answer (sb) back
answer back
answer for sth
answer for sb/sth
answer to sb