answer */*/*/

I UK [ˈɑːnsə(r)] / US [ˈænsər] noun
Word forms "answer":
singular answer plural answers

1)

a) [countable/uncountable] a spoken reply to a question

It was a tough question, but Ginny had her answer ready.

answer to:

The answer to your question is yes.

give someone an answer:

I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow.

in answer to:

In answer to your question, no he is not married.

b) [countable] a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement

I wrote to her in May but I never got an answer.

2) [singular] a situation in which someone comes to the door when you call at their house or picks up the phone when you ring them

I tried calling her again, but there was still no answer.

get no answer:

Ring the doorbell and if you get no answer, knock on the window.

3)

a) [countable] a spoken or written reply to a question in a test or competition

Write your answers in the space provided.

I'm sorry, but "Paris" is the wrong answer.

get the answer right/wrong:

You got all the answers right.

b) the correct reply to a question in a test or competition

All answers are printed in the back of the book.

answer to:

Do you know the answer to question 10?

4) [countable] a way of solving or dealing with a problem

If you can't afford a decorator, the obvious answer is to do it yourself.

answer to:

There are no easy answers to this crisis.

•

- something's answer to

See:

no I

II UK [ˈɑːnsə(r)] / US [ˈænsər] verb
Word forms "answer":
present tense I/you/we/they answer he/she/it answers present participle answering past tense answered past participle answered

1) [intransitive/transitive] to give a spoken reply to a question

I'm still waiting for you to answer.

I want you to answer one simple question.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully.

What's the matter? Answer me!

answer that:

I could only answer that I'd seen them leaving together.

a) [transitive] to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement

She answered an advertisement asking for models.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to come to the door when someone calls at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings

I knocked and a young man answered the door.

The phone rang and rang but she couldn't bring herself to answer it.

2) [intransitive/transitive] to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition

Answer one question from each section.

answer correctly/incorrectly:

Not everyone answered correctly.

3) [transitive] to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something

answer charges/criticisms:

How would you answer charges that your company puts profit before safety?

The Prime Minister made no attempt to answer their criticisms.

4) [transitive] to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for, especially in order to deal with a bad situation

Their request for help was answered by the Red Cross.

answer a need:

The estate was built to answer a need for low-cost housing.

answer someone's prayers:

When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered.

5) [intransitive/transitive] to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done

answer (something) with something:

He answered her look with a smile.

be answered by something:

The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.

•

- answer the description of

Phrasal verbs:

- answer back

- answer for

- answer to