Meaning & use

answer

noun·Everyday

A spoken or written response given to a question, problem, or request.

See it in a sentence

She gave a thoughtful answer to the interviewer's difficult question.

He couldn't answer the phone because he was driving on the highway.

A note on using this word

As a verb, answer can also mean to be responsible to someone, as in 'answer to the manager'.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To be accountable or responsible to a person or authority.

As team leader, she answers directly to the company's founder.

Make it your own

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