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."
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.
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.