answer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
    reply; response.
    • I waited several days for his answer
    • he wrote replies to several of his critics
  2. noun a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
    solvent; resolution; solution; result.
    • 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
  3. noun the speech act of replying to a question
  4. noun 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
  5. noun a nonverbal reaction
    • his answer to any problem was to get drunk
    • their answer was to sue me
  6. verb react verbally
    reply; respond.
    • She didn't want to answer
    • answer the question
    • We answered that we would accept the invitation
  7. verb respond to a signal
    • answer the door
    • answer the telephone
  8. verb give the correct answer or solution to
    • answer a question
    • answer the riddle
  9. verb understand the meaning of
    resolve.
    • The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered
  10. verb give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)
    • The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution
  11. verb be liable or accountable
    • She must answer for her actions
  12. verb be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
    do; suffice; serve.
    • 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
  13. verb match or correspond
    • The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave
  14. verb be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
    • This may answer her needs
  15. verb react to a stimulus or command
    • The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch

WordNet

An"swer transitive verb
Etymology
OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr. andswaru, n., answer. See Answer, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Answered present participle & verbal noun Answering
Definitions
  1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
  2. To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to.
    She answers him as if she knew his mind. Shak.
    So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus answered soon his bold compeer. Milton.
  3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
    No man was able to answer him a word. Matt. xxii. 46.
    These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant. Milton.
    The reasoning was not and could not be answered. Macaulay.
  4. To be or act in return or response to. Hence: (a) To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon him; the servant answered the bell.
    This proud king . . . studies day and night To answer all the debts he owes unto you. Shak.
    (b) To render account to or for.
    I will . . . send him to answer thee. Shak.
    (c) To atone; to be punished for.
    And grievously hath Cæzar answered it. Shak.
    (d) To be opposite to; to face.
    The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them. Gilpin.
    (e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay. R.
    Money answereth all things. Eccles. x. 19.
    (f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
    Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person. Swift.
An"swer intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response.
    There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26.
  2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as, the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his care.
    Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law. Shak.
  3. To be or act in return. Hence: (a) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on some soils.
    Do the strings answer to thy noble hand? Dryden.
    (b) To be opposite, or to act in opposition. (c) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as, a very few will answer. (d) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; -- usually with to.
    That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience. Shak.
    If this but answer to my just belief, I 'll remember you. Shak.
    As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Pro. xxvii. 19.
An"swer noun
Etymology
OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian to swear. , . See Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-.
Definitions
  1. A reply to a change; a defense.
    At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16.
  2. Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
    A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1.
    I called him, but he gave me no answer. Cant. v. 6.
  3. Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action.
    Great the slaughter is Here made by the Roman; great the answer be Britons must take. Shak.
  4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem.
  5. (Law) A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill. Bouvier. Syn. -- Reply; rejoinder; response. See Reply.

Webster 1913