An Encylopedia Britannica Company

answer

1 answer /ˈænsɚ/ Brit /ˈɑːnsə/ noun
plural answers
1 answer
/ˈænsɚ/ Brit /ˈɑːnsə/
noun
plural answers
Britannica Dictionary definition of ANSWER
[count]
: something you say or write when someone asks you a question
: a response to a question that is meant to show whether or not you know something (such as a question asked as part of an exam)
: the correct response to a question
: something you say or write as a reaction to something someone else has said or done
[count]
[noncount]
[count] : something you do in response to something that has happened : a reaction to something usually singular
[count] : a solution to a problem : something that makes a bad situation better
◊ Someone or something that is the answer to (all) your prayers provides you with something that you want or need.
[count] : something or someone that resembles a well-known or successful thing or person + to
2 answer /ˈænsɚ/ Brit /ˈɑːnsə/ verb
answers; answered; answering
2 answer
/ˈænsɚ/ Brit /ˈɑːnsə/
verb
answers; answered; answering
Britannica Dictionary definition of ANSWER
: to say or write something when someone asks you a question : to give an answer to (a question)
[+ object]
[no object]
[+ object] : to say or write (something) as a reply
[+ object] : to reply to (someone) : to say or write something as a response to (someone)
: to write a response to a letter, e-mail message, etc.
[no object]
[+ object]
: to pick up (a ringing telephone)
[no object]
[+ object]
: to open a door when someone knocks on it
[no object]
[+ object]
: to act in response to (something) : to react to (something) by taking some action
[+ object]
[no object]
[+ object] : to say something in response to (something, such as an accusation) : to defend yourself against (something)
[+ object] : to be the same as (something) : to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
see also answer to 1 (below)
[+ object] : to be what is needed for (something)
see also answer for 1c (below)

answer back

[phrasal verb]
somewhat informal : to reply to someone especially in a rude way
answer (someone) back : to reply rudely to (someone)

answer for

[phrasal verb]
answer for (something)
: to take responsibility for (something)
: to be responsible for (something)
: to be punished for (something)
US : to be used as (something) : to serve as (something)
see also 2answer 6 (above)
answer for (someone) : to say what someone else thinks : to give the opinion of (someone else)

answer someone's prayers

: to provide what someone hopes or prays for

answer to

[phrasal verb]
answer to (something) : to be the same as (something) : to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
see also 2answer 5 (above)
answer to (someone) : to be required to explain your actions to (someone)
answer to a name
◊ If an animal, such as a dog, answers to a name, it responds when it is called by that name.
◊ This phrase is also used to refer to the name used by a person.

— answerer

/ˈænsɚɚ/ noun, plural answerers [count]