What does "reply" mean?

1. (an answer) an answer that you write or say to someone. 2. (legal document) a formal document written to answer a legal statement. 3. (musical response) when one part of a piece of music answers another part. 4. (to answer) to say or write something as an answer. 5. (to react) to do something as a reaction to an action.

How do you use "reply"?

The verb is often followed by the preposition 'to'.

Is it correct to say "I am waiting for a reply of my letter."?

No — say "I am waiting for a reply to my letter.". Use the preposition 'to' after the noun 'reply' when mentioning what you are answering.

reply

n. · v.

US //ɹiˈpɫaɪ// UK //ɹɪplˈaɪ// re·ply

1 an answer (n.)
A2 Elementary

an answer that you write or say to someone.

a spoken or written response to a question, request, or communication.

Example

I sent her an email yesterday but I am still waiting for a reply.

Example

The press secretary issued a formal reply to the allegations, though many journalists felt the statement failed to address the core concerns.
- answer
- response
- question
- query
Pitfall

I am waiting for a reply of my letter.

I am waiting for a reply to my letter.

Use the preposition 'to' after the noun 'reply' when mentioning what you are answering.
2 legal document (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

a formal document written to answer a legal statement.

a legal document filed by a party specifically to respond to a previous declaration or answer from the opposing side.

Example

The lawyer filed a reply to the defendant's latest statement.

Example

The plaintiff's reply was submitted just before the deadline, providing a point-by-point refutation of the claims made in the responsive declaration.
- rejoinder
- rebuttal

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3 musical response (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Music

when one part of a piece of music answers another part.

the answer of a musical figure or phrase, often appearing in a different voice or key in a fugue.

Example

The flute plays a short melody, and then the violin gives a reply.

Example

In the exposition of the fugue, the second voice enters with the reply, transposing the subject into the dominant key.
- answer
- comes
4 to answer (v.)
A2 Elementary

to say or write something as an answer.

to provide a written or spoken response to a prompt, question, or criticism.

Example

Please reply to this invitation by Friday so we can order the food.

Example

When asked about the budget cuts, the director replied that no final decisions had been made yet.

Usage

The verb is often followed by the preposition 'to'.
- answer
- respond
- ask
- enquire
5 to react (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to do something as a reaction to an action.

to act or gesture in response to a situation or stimulus.

Example

The army replied to the attack by sending more troops to the border.

Example

The company replied to the competitor's price drop by launching an aggressive new marketing campaign.
- react
- retaliate

Origin

From Middle English replyen, replien, borrowed from Old French replier (“to reply”), from the Latin replicō, replicāre (“I fold back”) (in Late or Medieval Latin "to reply, repeat"), from re + plicō (“to fold”); the noun derives from the verb by nominalisation. Doublet of replicate and replica.