answer (answers plural & 3rd person present) (answering present participle) (answered past tense & past participle )
1 verb When you answer someone who has asked you something, you say something back to them.
Just answer the question... V n
He paused before answering... V
`When?' asked Alba, `Tonight', answered Tom... V with quote
Williams answered that he had no specific proposals yet. V that
2 n-count An answer is something that you say when you answer someone.
also in N to n
(=reply, response)
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and went in through the door..., I don't quite know what to say in answer to your question.
3 If you say that someone will not take no for an answer, you mean that they go on trying to make you agree to something even after you have refused.
not take no for an answer phrase with brd-neg
He would never take no for an answer.
4 verb If you answer a letter or advertisement, you write to the person who wrote it.
She answered an advert for a job as a cook. V n, Also V
5 n-count An answer is a letter that you write to someone who has written to you.
also in N to n
(=reply, response)
I wrote to him but I never had an answer back..., She wrote to Roosevelt's secretary in answer to his letter of the day before.
6 verb When you answer the telephone, you pick it up when it rings. When you answer the door, you open it when you hear a knock or the bell.
She answered her phone on the first ring... V n
A middle-aged woman answered the door. V n, Also V
Answer is also a noun., n-count usu sing
I knocked at the front door and there was no answer.
7 n-count An answerto a problem is a solution to it.
oft N to n
There are no easy answers to the problems facing the economy..., Prison is not the answer for most young offenders...
8 n-count Someone's answer to a question in a test or quiz is what they write or say in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for. The answer to a question is the fact that was asked for.
oft N to n
Simply marking an answer wrong will not help the pupil to get future examples correct...
9 verb When you answer a question in a test or quiz, you write or say something in an attempt to give the facts that are asked for.
To obtain her degree, she answered 81 questions over 10 papers. V n
10 n-count Your answerto something that someone has said or done is what you say or do in response to it or in defence of yourself.
also in N to n
(=reply, response)
In answer to speculation that she wouldn't finish the race, she boldly declared her intention of winning it.
11 verb If you answer something that someone has said or done, you respond to it.
(=counter)
He answered her smile with one of his own... V n with n
That statement seemed designed to answer criticism of allied bombing missions. V n, Also V n by -ing
12 verb If something answers a need or purpose, it satisfies it, because it has the right qualities.
(=satisfy)
We provide specially designed shopping trolleys to answer the needs of parents with young children. V n
13 verb If someone or something answers a particular description or answers to it, they have the characteristics described.
(=fit)
Two men answering the description of the suspects tried to enter Switzerland... V n
The Japanese never built any aircraft remotely answering to this description. V to n answer back phrasal verb If someone, especially a child, answers back, they speak rudely to you when you speak to them.
She was punished by teachers for answering back... V P
I always answered him back when I thought he was wrong. V n P answer for
1 phrasal verb If you have to answer for something bad or wrong you have done, you are punished for it.
He must be made to answer for his terrible crimes. V P n
2 If you say that someone has a lot to answer for, you are saying that their actions have led to problems which you think they are responsible for.
have a lot to answer for phrase have inflects
