a spoken or written reply or response to a question, request, letter, etc.

He sent an answer to my letter promptly.

a correct response to a question asked to test one's knowledge.

an equivalent or approximation

a singing group that tried to be the French answer to the Beatles.

an action serving as a reply or response

The answer was a volley of fire.

a solution to a problem, esp. in mathematics.

a reply to a charge or accusation.

Law . a pleading in which a party responds to his or her opponent's statement of position, esp. the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's complaint.

Music . the entrance of a fugue subject, usually on the dominant, either slightly altered or transposed exactly after each presentation in the tonic.

to speak or write in response; make answer; reply.

to respond by an act or motion

He answered with a nod. The champion answered with a right to the jaw.

to act or suffer in consequence of (usually fol. by for ).

to be or declare oneself responsible or accountable (usually fol. by for )

I will answer for his safety.

to be satisfactory or serve (usually fol. by for )

His cane answered for a baseball bat.

to conform; correspond (usually fol. by to )

The prisoner answered to the description issued by the police.

to speak or write in response to; reply to

to answer a person; to answer a question.

to act or move in response to

Answer the doorbell. We answered their goal with two quick goals of our own.

to solve or present a solution of.

to serve or fulfill

This will answer the purpose.

to discharge (a responsibility, claim, debt, etc.).

to conform or correspond to; be similar or equivalent to

This dog answers your description.

to atone for; make amends for.

to reply or respond favorably to

I would like to answer your request but am unable to do so.

answer back, to reply impertinently or rudely

Well-behaved children do not answer back when scolded.

answer the helm

Nautical . (of a vessel) to maneuver or remain steady according to the position of the rudder.

noun

question

verb

ask , question

noun

acknowledgment , antiphon , backcap , back talk , band-aid , close , comeback , comment , cooler * , counterclaim , crack , defense , disclosure , echo , elucidation , explanation , feedback , guff * , interpretation , justification , key , lip * , observation , parting shot , pay dirt * , plea , quick fix * , rebuttal , refutation , rejoinder , remark , repartee , report , resolution , response , result , retort , return , riposte , sign , solution , statement , thank-you note , the ticket , topper , vindication , wisecracknotes:an answer is something said , written , or done in return; a reply is an answer that satisfies a detail in a question , reply , determination , confirmation , counterstatement , monosyllable , negation , prolepsis , replication , rescript , rescription , responsion

verb

acknowledge , answer back , argue , back at you , back talk , be in touch , claim , comeback , contest , counterclaim , defend , deny , disprove , dispute , echo , explain , feedback , field the question , get back at * , get back to , give a snappy comeback , parry , plead , rebut , refute , rejoin , remark , resolve , respond , retaliate , retort , return , sass * , say , settle , shoot back , solve , squelch , talk back , top *notes:an answer is something said , written , or done in return; a reply is an answer that satisfies a detail in a question , clarify , conform , correlate , correspond , crack * , deal with * , do * , dope , dope out * , elucidate , fill , fit * , lick * , measure up , meet , pass , qualify , satisfy , serve , suffice , suit , unzip , work , work throughnotes:an answer is something said , reply , riposte , do , fulfill , act , defense , plea , react , replicate , resound , response , solution , speak , wisecrack , write