# reply

/ɹiˈpɫaɪ/ (US) · /ɹɪplˈaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reply
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an answer

noun · CEFR A2

an answer that you write or say to someone.

For teachers: a spoken or written response to a question, request, or communication.

- 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.

### 2. legal document

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal document written to answer a legal statement.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. musical response

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to answer

verb · CEFR A2

to say or write something as an answer.

For teachers: 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'.

### 5. to react

verb · CEFR B2

to do something as a reaction to an action.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I am waiting for a reply to my email.
- The manager sent a quick reply to confirm that the meeting time worked for everyone.
- Despite the urgency of the request, the department failed to provide a formal reply within the ten-day window required by company policy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.