Definitions
01an answer
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. an answer that you write or say to someone.
n. a spoken or written response to a question, request, or communication.
日本語:返事※
“I sent her an email yesterday but I am still waiting for a reply.”
“The press secretary issued a formal reply to the allegations, though many journalists felt the statement failed to address the core concerns.”
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.
02legal document
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a formal document written to answer a legal statement.
n. a legal document filed by a party specifically to respond to a previous declaration or answer from the opposing side.
“The lawyer filed a reply to the defendant's latest statement.”
“The plaintiff's reply was submitted just before the deadline, providing a point-by-point refutation of the claims made in the responsive declaration.”
Synonyms
03musical response
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical
n. when one part of a piece of music answers another part.
n. the answer of a musical figure or phrase, often appearing in a different voice or key in a fugue.
“The flute plays a short melody, and then the violin gives a reply.”
“In the exposition of the fugue, the second voice enters with the reply, transposing the subject into the dominant key.”
04to answer
A2 · Elementary
v. to say or write something as an answer.
v. to provide a written or spoken response to a prompt, question, or criticism.
“Please reply to this invitation by Friday so we can order the food.”
“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'.
05to react
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to do something as a reaction to an action.
v. to act or gesture in response to a situation or stimulus.
“The army replied to the attack by sending more troops to the border.”
“The company replied to the competitor's price drop by launching an aggressive new marketing campaign.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reply” in context.
Real-World Examples
“In Google's app quality audit, the reviews score checks "reply rate and the quality of replies: templated or personalised".” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/reply
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0