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verb British English pronunciation: answer /ˈɑːnsə(r)/ 
Word Forms
Close
present tense
I/you/we/theyanswer
he/she/itanswers
present participleanswering
past tenseanswered
past participleanswered
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to give a spoken reply to a question

    I’m still waiting for you to answer.

    I want you to answer one simple question.

    ‘I don’t know,’ she answered truthfully.

    What’s the matter? Answer me!

    answer that:

    I could only answer that I’d seen them leaving together.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
    1. a.
      [transitive] to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement

      She answered an advertisement asking for models.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
    2. b.
      [intransitive/transitive] to come to the door when someone calls at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings

      I knocked and a young man answered the door.

      The phone rang and rang but she couldn’t bring herself to answer it.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
  2. 2
    [intransitive/transitive] to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition

    Answer one question from each section.

    answer correctly/incorrectly:

    Not everyone answered correctly.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
  3. 3
    [transitive] to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something
    answer charges/criticisms:

    How would you answer charges that your company puts profit before safety?

    The Prime Minister made no attempt to answer their criticisms.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
  4. 4
    [transitive] to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for, especially in order to deal with a bad situation

    Their request for help was answered by the Red Cross.

    answer a need:

    The estate was built to answer a need for low-cost housing.

    answer someone’s prayers:

    When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer
  5. 5
    [intransitive/transitive] to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done
    answer (something) with something:

    He answered her look with a smile.

    be answered by something:

    The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  answerThesaurus entry for this meaning of answer

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This is the British English definition of answer. View American English definition of answer.

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