answer
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
answers
plural
answers
Britannica Dictionary definition of ANSWER
1
[count]
a
:
something you say or write when someone asks you a question
-
I asked him a simple question and he gave me a long and confusing answer.
-
I didn't believe her answer.
-
They wouldn't give me a straight answer to my question.
-
There will be a question and answer session [=a period of time when people can have their questions answered] following the speech.
b
:
a response to a question that is meant to show whether or not you know something (such as a question asked as part of an exam)
-
I didn't know the right/correct answer.
-
That is the wrong/incorrect answer.
c
:
the correct response to a question
-
Do you know the answer to this question?
-
He knew the answers to only 3 of the 10 questions.
-
The answers are listed in the back of the book.
2
:
something you say or write as a reaction to something someone else has said or done
[count]
-
I sent a letter of complaint but I never got an answer. [=response]
-
I finally received an answer [=reply] to my letter.
-
When I say something to you I expect an answer. [=response]
-
I called out her name but I got no answer. [=reply]
[noncount]
-
In answer [=in response] to your request we are sending a catalog.
3
[count]
:
something you do in response to something that has happened
:
a reaction to something
— usually singular
-
I called several times but there was no answer. [=no one answered the phone when I called]
-
I got no answer when I called.
-
I knocked on the door but there was no answer. [=no one opened the door when I knocked on it]
-
The company had no answer when its competitors lowered their prices.
-
When she called him a liar, his only answer was to walk out.
-
Our team had no answer for the other team's strong offense. [=our team could not win because of the other team's strong offense]
4
[count]
:
a solution to a problem
:
something that makes a bad situation better
-
More money is not the answer (to our problems).
-
It's a very difficult problem, and I don't know what the answer is.
-
They don't have answers for everything. = They don't have an answer for everything.
-
For a tough issue like this there are no easy answers.
-
He thinks he has/knows all the answers. [=he thinks that he knows the solution to every problem]
◊ Someone or something that is the answer to (all) your prayers provides you with something that you want or need.
-
If you've been wanting to get your schedule organized, this new software is the answer to (all) your prayers.
-
They were desperate to find a good lawyer, and they thought she might be the answer to their prayers.
5
[count]
:
something or someone that resembles a well-known or successful thing or person
— + to
-
The program is television's answer to news magazines. [=the program is similar to a news magazine]
2
answer
/ˈænsɚ/
Brit
/ˈɑːnsə/
verb
answers;
answered;
answering
2
answer
/ˈænsɚ/
Brit
/ˈɑːnsə/
verb
answers;
answered;
answering
Britannica Dictionary definition of ANSWER
1
a
:
to say or write something when someone asks you a question
:
to give an answer to (a question)
[+ object]
-
She answered all my questions.
-
He answered only three of the test questions correctly.
[no object]
-
When the police asked him his name, he refused to answer.
-
She answered correctly/incorrectly.
b
[+ object]
:
to say or write (something) as a reply
-
When asked if she would run for office, she answered that she hadn't decided. = When asked if she would run for office, she answered “I haven't decided.”
c
[+ object]
:
to reply to (someone)
:
to say or write something as a response to (someone)
-
When I ask you a question I expect you to answer me!
-
Answer me this: where have you put my money?
2
a
:
to write a response to a letter, e-mail message, etc.
[no object]
-
I sent her a letter asking for her help, but she never answered.
[+ object]
-
She never answered my letter. = She never answered me.
b
:
to pick up (a ringing telephone)
[no object]
-
The phone rang repeatedly, but no one answered.
[+ object]
-
Would somebody please answer the phone?
-
answer a phone call
c
:
to open a door when someone knocks on it
[no object]
-
I knocked on the door but no one answered.
[+ object]
-
No one answered the door.
3
:
to act in response to (something)
:
to react to (something) by taking some action
[+ object]
-
I got the job by answering a “help wanted” ad in the newspaper.
-
When the war began, thousands of young men answered the call to arms. [=thousands of young men joined the armed forces]
-
He answered her anger with indifference. [=he responded to her anger by acting indifferent]
[no object]
-
The home team scored first but the visiting team answered quickly. [=the visiting team also scored soon after the home team scored]
4
[+ object]
:
to say something in response to (something, such as an accusation)
:
to defend yourself against (something)
-
The police chief will appear in court today to answer charges of corruption.
-
answer criticism
5
[+ object]
:
to be the same as (something)
:
to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
—
see also answer to 1 (below)
-
The suspect answered [=matched] the description that had been given by the witness.
6
[+ object]
:
to be what is needed for (something)
—
see also answer for 1c (below)
-
We don't have a sink, but this bucket will answer [=(more commonly) serve] the purpose. [=we can use this bucket as a sink]
answer back
[phrasal verb]
1
somewhat informal
:
to reply to someone especially in a rude way
-
impolite children who answer back [=talk back] when their teacher corrects them
2
answer (someone) back
:
to reply rudely to (someone)
-
He became angry when she answered him back.
answer for
[phrasal verb]
1
answer for (something)
a
:
to take responsibility for (something)
:
to be responsible for (something)
-
I can't answer for their safety. [=I can't promise that they will be safe]
-
The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees.
-
She has a lot to answer for. [=she is responsible for many bad things that have happened]
b
:
to be punished for (something)
-
He must answer for his crimes.
c
US
:
to be used as (something)
:
to serve as (something)
—
see also 2answer 6 (above)
-
The old bucket answered for a sink. [=the old bucket was used as a sink]
2
answer for (someone)
:
to say what someone else thinks
:
to give the opinion of (someone else)
-
I like the proposal myself, but I can't answer for my boss.
answer someone's prayers
:
to provide what someone hopes or prays for
-
They hoped that God would answer their prayers and restore their son's health.
-
Their prayers were answered when their son's health was restored.
answer to
[phrasal verb]
1
answer to (something)
:
to be the same as (something)
:
to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
—
see also 2answer 5 (above)
-
The suspect answers to [=answers, matches] the description perfectly.
2
answer to (someone)
:
to be required to explain your actions to (someone)
-
He has to answer to a tough boss.
3
answer to a name
◊ If an animal, such as a dog, answers to a name, it responds when it is called by that name.
-
This dog answers to the name (of) “Rover.”
◊ This phrase is also used to refer to the name used by a person.
-
My uncle's real name is “Edwin,” but he doesn't answer to that name. He prefers to be called “Ed.”
