an·swer ( n s r)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. [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
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]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| 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"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"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 questionUrim 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 counterclaimspleading - (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" | |
| Verb | 1. | answer - react verbally; "She didn't want to answer"; "answer the question"; "We answered that we would accept the invitation" 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"; 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" | |
| 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" 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" | |
| 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" 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" 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" | |
| 9. | answer - be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of; "This may answer her needs" | |
| 10. |  answer - react to a stimulus or command; "The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch" |
answer
verb 1. reply, explain, respond, resolve, acknowledge, react, return, retort, rejoin, refute << OPPOSITE ask
noun 3. reply, response, reaction, resolution, explanation, plea, comeback, retort, report, return, defence, acknowledgement, riposte, counterattack, refutation, rejoinder << OPPOSITE question
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
in answer to your letter → contestando or en contestación a su carta;
answer to vt fus [+ description] → corresponder a
answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → réponse f;
(to problem) → solution f
vi → répondre
to answer the phone → répondre (au téléphone);
answer to vt fus [+ description] → répondre or correspondre à
answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → Antwort f;
(to problem) → Lösung f
vi → antworten;
vt (reply to) (person) → antworten +dat: (letter, question) → beantworten;
(problem) → lösen;
(prayer) → erhören;
in answer to your letter → in Beantwortung Ihres Schreibens;
answer back answer vi → widersprechen;
answer to answer vt fus (description) → entsprechen +dat
answer [ˈɑːnsəʳ] n → risposta; soluzione f
vi → rispondere
to answer the phone → rispondere (al telefono);
to answer the bell → rispondere al campanello;
answer back vi → ribattere
answer for vt fus → essere responsabile di
answer to vt fus [+ description] → corrispondere a
n answer [ˈaːnsə]
1 something said, written or done that is caused by a question etc from another person She refused to give an answer to his questions. antwoord جَواب отоговор odpověď svar die Antwort απάντηση respuesta, contestación vastus جواب vastaus réponse תְשוּבָה उत्तर odgovor válasz, felelet jawaban svar risposta 答え 대답 atsakymas atbilde jawapan antwoord svar odpowiedź resposta răspuns ответ odpoveď odgovor odgovor svar คำตอบ cevap 回答 відповідь جواب câu trả lời 回答
2 the solution to a problem The answer to your transport difficulties is to buy a car. oplossing حَـل لِمَسْألَه решение řešení løsning die Lösung λύση solución lahendus چاره؛ راه حل ratkaisu solution פִּתָרוֹן हल rješenje megoldás pemecahan lausn soluzione 解答 해답 išeitis atrisinājums penyelesaian oplossing løsning rozwiązanie, wyjście solução soluţie решение riešenie rešitev rešenje lösning, svar วิธีแก้ปัญหา çözüm, çare 答案 вирішення حل lời giải đáp 答案
v
1 to make an answer to a question, problem, action etc Answer my questions, please; Why don't you answer the letter? beantwoord يَرُد عَلى، يُجِيب отговарям odpovědět (na) svare beantworten απαντώ responder, contestar vastama جواب دادن vastata répondre (à) לַעֲנוֹת, לְהָשִיב उत्तर देना odgovoriti válaszol, felel jawab, menjawab, membalas svara rispondere 答える 대답하다, 회답하다 atsakyti atbildēt jawab antwoorden op svare odpowiadać na responder a răspunde (la) отвечать odpovedať odgovoriti (na) odgovoriti svara ตอบ cevaplamak, cevap vermek 回答 відповідати جواب دینا trả lời 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? kyk wie is daar يَفْتَح الباب (لِلطَّارِق) отговарям на zvednout telefon, otevřít, reagovat tage telefonen; åbne døren Telefon beantworten; Tür aufmachen usw. ανοίγω, απαντώ responder; abrir (la puerta)/coger (el teléfono) (ust) avama, (telefonile) vastama جواب دادن vastata, avata ouvrir; répondre לְהָגִיב प्रतिक्रिया दिखाना odazvati se felveszi a telefont; csengetésre ajtót nyit menanggapi svara aprire; rispondere 応じる 응하다 atidaryti, atsiliepti atbildēt; atsaukties; atvērt jawab reageren op lukke opp; ta telefonen otwierać, odbierać atender a răspunde (la); a deschide отвечать; открывать hlásiť sa, otvoriť dvigniti slušalko; odpreti javiti se svara, [] öppna เปิด (ประตู); รับ (โทรศัพท์) bakmak, açmak 應答 відповідати جواب دینا đáp lại 應答
3 to be suitable or all that is necessary (for) This will answer my requirements. beantwoord, voorsien يُلائِم съответствам splnit svare til; tilfredsstille erfüllen ανταποκρίνομαι σε, είμαι κατάλληλος για κτ. satisfacer vastama جوابگو بودن vastata, täyttää satisfaire לַעֲנוֹת समाधान करना odgovarati megfelel memenuhi fullnægja servire, essere utile ～にかなう 부응하다 (ati)tikti atbilst; apmierināt memenuhi voldoen aan svare til, tilfredsstille spełnić corresponder a satisface соответствовать splniť zadostiti odgovarati möta, täcka ตอบสนอง el vermek, işini görmek 適應 підходити; задовольняти پورا کرنا thoả mãn 適應
4 (often withto) to be the same as or correspond to (a description etc) The police have found a man answering (to) that description. aan voldoen يُلائِم، يَفي بِالغَرَض отговарящ odpovídat (čemu) svare til; passe til entsprechen ανταποκρίνομαι (σε) responder a, corresponder a vastama مطابقت کردن vastata correspondre à מַתאִים अनुरूप होना odgovarati megfelel sesuai samsvara corrispondere a 合致する 일치하다 atitikti atbilst menyerupai beantwoorden aan samsvare, passe odpowiadać corresponder a corespunde la соответствовать odpovedať ustrezati odgovarati motsvara, stämma med เข้ากันได้กับ uymak, bildirildiği gibi olmak 符合 відповідати чомусь; підходити ٹھیک بیٹھنا phù hợp 符合
adj answerable
(usually withto, ~for) to have the responsibility I will be answerable to you for his good behaviour; She is answerable for the whole project. verantwoordelik مَسْؤول عَن، مُطالَب بِالرَّد عَلى отговорен (z)odpovědný (za) ansvarlig verantwortlich υπόλογος, υπεύθυνος responsable de vastutav پاسخگو vastuussa responsable (de) אַחֲרַאי ל- उत्तरदायी odgovoran felelős bertanggung jawab ábyrgur responsabile 責任のある 책임있는 atsakingas atbildīgs bertanggungjawab aansprakelijk ansvarlig odpowiedzialny responsável răspunzător (pentru) ответственный zodpovedný (za) odgovoren (za) odgovoran ansvarig มีความรับผิดชอบ sorumlu 應負責任的 відповідальний جواب دہ ہونا chịu trách nhiệm 應負責任的
n answering ˌmachine
(alsomachine) a machine that take messages for you when you cannot answer the phone to leave a message on the answering machine. antwoordmasjien السِّكِرْتيرَة الآلِيَّه телефонен секретар telefonní záznamník telefonsvarer der Anrufbeantworter αυτόματος τηλεφωνητής contestador automaatvastaja منشی تلفنی répondeur מְשִׁיבוֹן जवाब देने वाली मशीन telefonska sekretarica üzenetrögzítő mesin penjawab segreteria telefonica 留守番電話 전화 자동 응답 장치 atsakiklis automātiskais [] atbildētājs mesin penjawab telefon antwoordapparaat telefonsvarer automatyczna sekretarka robot telefonic автоответчик odkazovač telefonska tajnica telefonska sekretarica telefonsvarare เครื่องตอบรับโทรศัพท์อัตโนมัติ telesekreter 自動應答錄音電話機 автовідповідач جواب دینے والی مشین máy trả lời điện thoại 自動應答錄音電話機
answer for
1 (often withto) to bear the responsibility or be responsible for (something) I'll answer to your mother for your safety. teenoor verantwoordelik wees يَكون مَسْؤولا عَن застъпвам се zodpovídat (za) tage ansvar verantwortlich sein für αναλαμβάνω την ευθύνη responder por vastutama مسئول بودن؛ پاسخگو بودن vastata jostakin répondre de לְהִיוֹת אַחֲרַאי उत्तरदायी होना odgovarati kezeskedik bertanggung jawab bera ábyrgð á rispondere di, essere responsabile di 保証する 책임을 지다 atsakyti už būt atbildīgam (par kaut ko) menerima tanggungjawab instaan voor ta ansvaret, gå god for odpowiadać ser responsável a răspunde de (по)ручаться zodpovedať (za) odgovarjati (za) biti odgovoran za []svara för รับผิดชอบต่อ sorumlu olmak 負責 ручатися ذمہ دار ہونا chịu trách nhiệm 負責
2 to suffer or be punished (for something) You'll answer for your rudeness one day! boet يَتَحَمَّل تَبْعَة ، يَتَحَمَّل المَسْؤولِيَّة عَن нося последствия zodpovídat se stå til ansvar; undgælde büßen τιμωρούμαι, πληρώνω για κτ. pagar por vastutust kandma تاوان دادن؛ سزای کاری را دیدن joutua tilille payer pour לַתֵת אֶת הַדִין प्रतिकार odgovarati vkiért, vmiért felel menanggung akibat gjalda pagare per 償いをする 대가를 치르다 atsakyti už tikt sodītam (par kaut ko) dibalas rekenschap afleggen voor unngjelde, svare for odpowiadać sofrer as consequências a plăti pentru ответить за (какой-л. проступок) zodpovedať sa plačati (za) kazniti stå till svars รับผลจาก hesap vermek 報應 відповідати جواب دینا chịu trách nhiệm 報應
n answerphone
= answering machine. antwoordmasjien السِّكِرْتيرَة الآلِيَّه телефонен секретар telefonní záznamník telefonsvarer der Anrufbeantworter αυτόματος τηλεφωνητής contestador automaatvastaja منشی تلفنی répondeur מְשִיבוֹן जवाब देने वाला फोन telefonska sekretarica mesin penjawab segreteria telefonica 留守番電話 atsakiklis mesin penjawab telefon antwoordapparaat telefonsvarer автоответчик telefónny odkazovač, záznamník telefonska sekretarica telefonsvarare เครื่องตอบรับโทรศัพท์อัตโนมัติ 應答机 автовідповідач ٹیلیفون پر جواب دینے والی مشین máy trả lời điện thoại 应答机
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