Home / Dictionary / Reply

Reply Very Common

Reply has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

"I waited several days for his answer"

"he wrote replies to several of his critics"

2

the speech act of continuing a conversational exchange

"he growled his reply"

3

A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.

"She paused to read his email before drafting her reply."

In plain English: A reply is an answer given to someone who has asked a question or made a statement.

"She waited patiently for his reply to her question."

Verb
1

react verbally

"She didn't want to answer"

"answer the question"

"We answered that we would accept the invitation"

2

To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.

"When the professor asked for feedback on his new teaching method, I quickly replied by explaining that students seemed more engaged than before."

In plain English: To reply means to give an answer or response to something someone else said or asked.

"She quickly replied to his question with a simple yes."

Usage: Use reply when you are answering someone who has already asked a question or made an inquiry, often implying a direct conversational exchange rather than providing new information. Unlike "answer," which can apply to tests or riddles requiring solutions, reply fits best in contexts where the focus is on responding to communication itself.

Example Sentences
"She waited patiently for his reply to her question." noun
"She quickly replied to his question with a simple yes." verb
"She replied to his text message with a simple smiley face." verb
"The teacher asked for a written reply by the end of the week." verb
"He did not reply when I called him on the phone." verb
Related Terms
answer email response respond back question answering email response emails return rsvp answer back conversation questions email answer message responding ply counterreply surrebut
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
statement speech act state
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
rescript feedback counterblast non sequitur rejoinder echo answer call back counter field sass retort bridle

Origin

The word "reply" entered English via Middle English and Old French from a Latin root meaning "to fold back." Its original sense of folding something over evolved into the modern concept of answering or responding to someone.

Rhyming Words
ply haply yeply duply imply apply amply nipply comply steply shiply triply helply damply dimply jimply limply pimply simply ripply
Compare
Reply vs