Meaning & use
reply
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To say or write something back to a person, message, question, or request.
Grammar: No object; use reply to someone or something: reply to the email, not reply the email.
Patterns
- reply to someone
- reply to something
- reply by email/phone/text
- reply quickly/promptly
She didn't reply to my message until the next morning.
Please reply to the invitation by Friday.
He replied with a short thank-you note.
verbtransitive
To report an answer by using a that clause, often in written or formal speech.
Grammar: Takes a that-clause: reply that something is true; the word that is often omitted.
Patterns
- reply (that) + clause
- reply that someone will do something
- reply that something is the case
She replied that she would be ten minutes late.
He replied that the report was almost finished.
They replied that no decision had been made.
nouncountable
Something said or written as an answer to a message, question, request, or remark.
Grammar: Countable; say a reply to something, not a reply of something.
Patterns
- a reply to something
- in reply to something
- get/receive a reply
- no reply
I still haven't received a reply to my application.
His only reply was a shrug.
She sent a quick reply to say yes.
Word forms
| third person singular | replies |
|---|---|
| past tense | replied |
| past participle | replied |
| -ing form | replying |
Common combinations
- reply to an email
- Could you reply to my email before the meeting?
- reply promptly
- The office usually replies promptly during business hours.
- in reply to
- In reply to your question, the tickets are still available.
- receive a reply
- We received a reply from the landlord two days later.
- a brief reply
- Her brief reply gave no reason for the delay.
Synonyms and how they differ
- answer
- Similar, but answer can take a direct object: answer the phone, while reply normally needs to.
- respond
- Often used for reactions to actions, events, or situations as well as words: respond to criticism.
- get back to
- Informal; means reply later, especially in messages: I'll get back to you tomorrow.
- retort
- A quick, sharp answer, often showing anger or humor; use only for that tone.
Opposites
Commonly confused: reply or replay? reply or response?
reply vs replay
Same letters plus a; replay means to play something again, such as a video or a game.
reply vs response
Response is only a noun and often fits wider reactions; reply can be a verb or a countable noun.
Practice
Choose the most natural sentence.
Choose one answer.
Reply is intransitive here and needs to: reply to the email. Answer can be transitive, so answer the email would work, but answer to the email does not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reply”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.