Word
answer
Phoneticsan·swer, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈænsɝ/
UK/ˈɑːnsɐ/
Definitions
01a reply
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. something you say or write back to someone who has asked you a question.
n. a spoken or written response to a question, statement, or greeting.
Español:respuesta
“I sent her a message yesterday but I still haven't had an answer.”
“The minister provided a vague answer to the journalist's inquiry, successfully avoiding any commitment to a specific timeline for the new policy.”
Pitfall
I am waiting for an answer of my email.
I am waiting for an answer to my email.
Use the preposition 'to' after the noun 'answer' when connecting it to the thing being replied to.
02a solution
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the way to fix a problem or the correct result of a test question.
n. the solution to a problem or the correct result of a mathematical or logical exercise.
Español:respuesta
“Check your answers at the back of the book after you finish the exercise.”
“Scientists are still searching for an answer to the mystery of why these birds migrate such vast distances every year.”
03legal response
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal document that a person writes to defend themselves in court.
n. a formal written pleading filed by a defendant in response to a civil complaint.
“The company filed its answer to the lawsuit on Tuesday morning.”
“The defendant's answer denied all allegations of negligence and raised several affirmative defenses regarding the statute of limitations.”
Antonyms
04to reply
A1 · Beginner
v. to say or write something back to someone.
v. to speak, write, or act in response to a query or statement.
Español:contestar
“She didn't answer me when I asked her what was wrong.”
“The CEO refused to answer questions regarding the merger until the official press release had been distributed to the shareholders.”
Pitfall
Please answer to my question.
Please answer my question.
The verb 'answer' is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.
05to pick up a phone/door
A1 · Beginner
v. to pick up the phone or open the door when someone is there.
v. to respond to a signal, such as a telephone ringing or a knock at a door.
Español:contestar
“I knocked on the door for five minutes but nobody answered.”
“Despite several attempts to reach the office by phone, nobody answered the call during regular business hours.”
Antonyms
06to be responsible
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to be the person who must explain why something happened or take the blame.
v. to be responsible or liable for something; to be accountable to a person or authority.
“The manager has to answer for the mistakes made by his team.”
“In a democratic system, elected officials must ultimately answer to the public for the decisions they make while in office.”
Usage
Usually used with the preposition 'for' (the action) or 'to' (the person in charge).
07to match or suit
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to be exactly what is needed for a specific purpose.
v. to correspond to a description or to satisfy a particular requirement or need.
“This new apartment answers all my needs for a quiet place to work.”
“The suspect arrested last night answers the description provided by the witnesses at the scene of the crime.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “answer” in context.
Real-World Examples
“But first, we want to answer your questions.” “Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, declined to answer questions at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination and accusing Republican Senator Rand Paul of an "unhinged" campaign to see him imprisoned.” “ChatGPT relieves me of my discomfort, but in doing so it robs me of contemplation, of the holy ground between question and answer” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-Indo-European *swer-der. Proto-Germanic *swarō Proto-Germanic *andaswarō Proto-West Germanic *andaswaru Old English andswaru Middle English answere English answer From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) + swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European swer-), suggesting an original meaning of "a sworn statement rebutting a charge". The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”). Compare also Old English andwyrde (“answer”) (cognate to Dutch antwoord, German Antwort), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-Indo-European *swer-der. Proto-Germanic *swarjaną Proto-Germanic *andaswarjaną Old English andswerian Middle English answeren English answer From Middle English answeren, andswaren, answerien, from Old English andswarian, answarien (“to answer, to respond, to deny an allegation under oath”), from Proto-Germanic andaswarōną, andaswarjaną (“to answer, to give a response, to rebut”), from anda- (“against”) + swarjaną, swarōną (“to swear an oath, to answer, to respond”), from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- (“face, forehead”) and *swer- (“to swear”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondswera (“to answer”), Danish ansvare (“to answer, account for”), Swedish ansvara (“to answer, account for”), Icelandic andsvara (“to answer, reply”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
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Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0