answer (redirected from answering back)

an·swer  (nsr)

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 retaliation or response: 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 defense against charges.

v. an·swered, an·swer·ing, an·swers

v.intr.

1. To speak, write, or act as a return, as to a question.

2. To be liable or accountable: You must answer for your actions.

3. To serve the purpose; suffice: "Often I do use three words where one would answer" Mark Twain.

4. To correspond; match: I found a dog answering to that description.

v.tr.

1. To speak, write, or act as a return to; respond to.

2. To respond correctly to.

3. To fulfill the demands or needs of; serve: "My fortune has answered my desires" Isaak Walton.

4. To conform or correspond to: The suspect answers the description given by the police.

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[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.

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answer

Verb

1. to reply or respond (to) by word or act

2. to be responsible (to a person)

3. to reply correctly to (a question)

4. to respond or react: a dog that answers to the name of Pugg

5. to meet the requirements of

6. to give a defence of (a charge)

Noun

1. a reply to a question, request, letter, or article

2. a solution to a problem

3. a reaction or response [Old English andswaru]

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, response statement - 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 morality feedback - 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, resolution statement - 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 question reply, 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 questions refutation, 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 counterclaims pleading - (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding evasive answer - (law) an answer by a defendant that fails to admit or deny the allegations set forth in the complaint nolo contendere, non vult - (law) an answer of `no contest' by a defendant who does not admit guilt but that subjects him to conviction plea - (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, respond call 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 back say, 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" resolve 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"
	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, serve bridge 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 extent serve, 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 of measure up, qualify - prove capable or fit; meet requirements go 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

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answer

verb 1. reply, explain, respond, resolve, acknowledge, react, return, retort, rejoin, refute << OPPOSITE ask

verb 2. satisfy, meet, serve, fit, fill, suit, solve, fulfil, suffice, measure up to

noun 3. reply, response, reaction, resolution, explanation, plea, comeback, retort, report, return, defence, acknowledgement, riposte, counterattack, refutation, rejoinder << OPPOSITE question

noun 4. solution, resolution, explanation

noun 5. remedy, solution, vindication

answer to someone be responsible to, obey, work under, be ruled by, be managed by, be subordinate to, be accountable to, be answerable to

Translations

answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → respuesta, contestación f;

(to problem) → solución f

vi → contestar, responder

vt (= reply to) → contestar a, responder a [+ problem]; resolver;

to answer the phone → contestar el teléfono;

in answer to your letter → contestando or en contestación a su carta;

to answer the bell or the door → abrir la puerta

answer back vi → replicar, ser respondón/ona

answer for vt fus → responder de or por

answer to vt fus [+ description] → corresponder a

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answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → réponse f;

(to problem) → solution f

vi → répondre

vt (= reply to) → répondre à [+ problem]; résoudre [+ prayer]; exaucer;

in answer to your letter → suite à or en réponse à votre lettre;

to answer the phone → répondre (au téléphone);

to answer the bell or the door → aller or venir ouvrir (la porte)

answer back vi → répondre, répliquer

answer for vt fus → répondre de, se porter garant de [+ crime, one's actions]; répondre de

answer to vt fus [+ description] → répondre or correspondre à

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answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → Antwort f;

(to problem) → Lösung f

vi → antworten;

(Tel) → sich melden

vt (reply to) (person) → antworten +dat: (letter, question) → beantworten;

(problem) → lösen;

(prayer) → erhören;

in answer to your letter → in Beantwortung Ihres Schreibens;

to answer the phone → ans Telefon gehen;

to answer the bell or the door → die Tür aufmachen

answer back answer vi → widersprechen;

(child) → frech sein

answer for answer vt fus (person) → verantwortlich sein für, sich verbürgen für

answer to answer vt fus (description) → entsprechen +dat

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answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → risposta; soluzione f

vi → rispondere

vt (= reply to) → rispondere a [+ problem]; risolvere [+ prayer]; esaudire;

in answer to your letter → in risposta alla sua lettera;

to answer the phone → rispondere (al telefono);

to answer the bell → rispondere al campanello;

to answer the door → aprire la porta

answer back vi → ribattere

answer for vt fus → essere responsabile di

answer to vt fus [+ description] → corrispondere a