Meaning of "answer" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD ANSWER

Old English andswaru an answer; related to Old Frisian ondser, Old Norse andsvar.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF ANSWER

answer  [ˈɑːnsə]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ANSWER

Answer is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb answer in English.

WHAT DOES ANSWER MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Answer

Generally, an answer is a reply to a question or is a solution, a retaliation, or a response that is relevant to the said question. In law, an answer was originally a solemn assertion in opposition to someone or something, and thus generally any counter-statement or defense, a reply to a question or response, or objection, or a correct solution of a problem. In the common law, an answer is the first pleading by a defendant, usually filed and served upon the plaintiff within a certain strict time limit after a civil complaint or criminal information or indictment has been served upon the defendant. It may have been preceded by an optional "pre-answer" motion to dismiss or demurrer; if such a motion is unsuccessful, the defendant must file an answer to the complaint or risk an adverse default judgment. In a criminal case, there is usually an arraignment or some other kind of appearance before the defendant comes to court. The pleading in the criminal case, which is entered on the record in open court, is usually either guilty or not guilty. Generally speaking in private, civil cases there is no plea entered of guilt or innocence.

Definition of answer in the English dictionary

The first definition of answer in the dictionary is a reply, either spoken or written, as to a question, request, letter, or article. Other definition of answer is a reaction or response in the form of an action. Answer is also a solution, esp of a mathematical problem.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO ANSWER

PRESENT

Present

I answer

you answer

he/she/it answers

we answer

you answer

they answer

Present continuous

I am answering

you are answering

he/she/it is answering

we are answering

you are answering

they are answering

Present perfect

I have answered

you have answered

he/she/it has answered

we have answered

you have answered

they have answered

Present perfect continuous

I have been answering

you have been answering

he/she/it has been answering

we have been answering

you have been answering

they have been answering

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I answered

you answered

he/she/it answered

we answered

you answered

they answered

Past continuous

I was answering

you were answering

he/she/it was answering

we were answering

you were answering

they were answering

Past perfect

I had answered

you had answered

he/she/it had answered

we had answered

you had answered

they had answered

Past perfect continuous

I had been answering

you had been answering

he/she/it had been answering

we had been answering

you had been answering

they had been answering

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will answer

you will answer

he/she/it will answer

we will answer

you will answer

they will answer

Future continuous

I will be answering

you will be answering

he/she/it will be answering

we will be answering

you will be answering

they will be answering

Future perfect

I will have answered

you will have answered

he/she/it will have answered

we will have answered

you will have answered

they will have answered

Future perfect continuous

I will have been answering

you will have been answering

he/she/it will have been answering

we will have been answering

you will have been answering

they will have been answering

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would answer

you would answer

he/she/it would answer

we would answer

you would answer

they would answer

Conditional continuous

I would be answering

you would be answering

he/she/it would be answering

we would be answering

you would be answering

they would be answering

Conditional perfect

I would have answer

you would have answer

he/she/it would have answer

we would have answer

you would have answer

they would have answer

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been answering

you would have been answering

he/she/it would have been answering

we would have been answering

you would have been answering

they would have been answering

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you answer
we let´s answer
you answer

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to answer

Past participle

answered

Present Participle

answering

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «ANSWER»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «answer» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of answer

acknowledge · acknowledgement · comeback · counterattack · defence · explain · explanation · fill · fit · fulfil · get · match · measure up to · meet · plea · react · reaction · rebut · rebuttal · refutation · refute · rejoin · rejoinder · remedy · reply · report · resolution · resolve · respond · response · retort · return · riposte · satisfy · serve · solution · solve · suffice · suit · vindication

TRANSLATION OF ANSWER

Find out the translation of answer to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of answer from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «answer» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 答案
• Translator English - Spanish: respuesta
• English: answer
• Translator English - Hindi: जवाब
• Translator English - Arabic: إجَابَة
• Translator English - Russian: ответ
• Translator English - Portuguese: resposta
• Translator English - Bengali: উত্তর
• Translator English - French: réponse
• Translator English - Malay: Jawapannya
• Translator English - German: Antwort
• Translator English - Japanese: 答え
• Translator English - Korean: 대답
• Translator English - Javanese: Jawaban
• Translator English - Vietnamese: câu trả lời
• Translator English - Tamil: பதில்
• Translator English - Marathi: उत्तर
• Translator English - Turkish: Cevap
• Translator English - Italian: risposta
• Translator English - Polish: odpowiedź
• Translator English - Ukrainian: відповідь
• Translator English - Romanian: răspuns
• Translator English - Greek: απάντηση
• Translator English - Afrikaans: antwoord
• Translator English - Swedish: svar
• Translator English - Norwegian: svar

10 QUOTES WITH «ANSWER»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word answer.

1

F. Murray Abraham

Suddenly I was the man who got the part that every actor in the English language was trying to get. I was really scared. I had talked the talk, and now I had to walk the walk. For three days, I couldn't answer the phone.

2

Clay Aiken

I don't really feel like I have anybody to answer to but myself and God and the people I love.

3

John Amery

I appeal to all Britishers to answer this call to arms for the defence of all the principles that we Englishmen have been the first to proclaim in the world.

4

John Anderson

Well if you were asking my personal opinion on that I think the answer can only be yes but it was missed. Much as I know I'm responsible for a lot of things, I can't wear any responsibility for that.

5

Chris Bohjalian

I answer two or three letters a day. I'm just not the he-has-a-secretary kind of guy.

6

Sherrod Brown

It is past time for Republican leadership to answer for record deficits and reckless spending, both in Iraq and in the U.S. It's time for a plan to bring our troops home.

7

Leos Carax

We all get a little tired of being ourselves sometimes. The answer is to reinvent yourself, but how do you do that and what is the cost?

8

Emanuel Celler

My wife - to-be and I went to see my father. Only he could answer the two questions before us: Shall we get married now? Shall I begin the practice of law, or continue being the successful wine salesman I had become, working my way through law school?

9

P. Chidambaram

Two successive commissioners in London police were fired by the mayor that came into office. That doesn't mean the police in London is not independent and does not exercise powers. Ultimately it is the political executive that has to answer.

10

Roger Clemens

I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell's report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ANSWER»

Discover the use of answer in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to answer and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

The Project Management Answer Book

from project management instructor and presentation skills coach jeff furman, this book is a complete resource full of useful advice and information for anyone involved in project management. written in an easily accessible, readily ...

Jeff Furman, 2011

The Bible Answer Book

And he's done something about it--he's spelled out the answers. The Bible Answer Book is a simple guide covering 80 of the top questions that the Bible Answer Man has dealt with in his ministry.

Hank Hanegraaff, 2004

The Heaven Answer Book

The noted evangelist provides Bible-based answers to commonly asked questions about the existence and characteristics of heaven, what happens when people die, what they will do in heaven, who will get there, and what difference it makes.

Billy Graham, 2012

The Library's Legal Answer Book

Looks at legal issues surrounding libraries, covering such toipcs as designing a Web site, copyright, library empolyees, and providing access to people with disabilities.

Mary Minow, Tomas A. Lipinski, 2002

The Asperger's Answer Book: The Top 300 Questions Parents Ask

The Asperger's Answer Book is a reassuring, authoritative reference for parents, families and educators, providing sound advice and immediate answers and information.

Susan Ashley (PhD.), 2007

The Breastfeeding Answer Book

From descriptions of how the breast works to nursing multiple babies and weaning to various drug interactions, this is a complete resource guide to breastfeeding and has proven necessary for those who want to help mothers breastfeed.

Nancy Mohrbacher, Julie Stock, 2003

The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What Is the ...

The book takes us from the Greeks' earliest scientific observations through Einstein and beyond in an inspiring celebration of human curiosity.

Leon Lederman, Dick Teresi, 2006

The Project Management Question and Answer Book

What is it? Is it right for my organization? Will it save me money and time? Everything you need to know about project management.

Michael W. Newell, Marina N. Grashina, 2004

The ADD and ADHD Answer Book: Professional Answers to 275 of ...

The book also includes questionnaires and checklists to help you get the most out of your child's evaluation.

Susan Ashley, Susan Ashley Ph.D, 2005

The HR Answer Book: An Indispensable Guide for Managers and ...

Your field, your job, and your company are constantly evolving. Make sure you keep pace. It's easy with "The HR Answer Book"! Shawn Smith is an attorney, corporate executive, and frequent speaker on management issues.

Shawn A. Smith, Rebecca A. Mazin, 2011

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ANSWER»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term answer is used in the context of the following news items.

Love Supreme Festival 2015, Glynde Place, review: 'the jazz answer …

It's been a good summer for Van Morrison, who has been knighted, honoured with the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Jul 15»

Amazon Marks 20th Anniversary With “Prime Day,” Its Answer To …

The e-commerce giant announced that it will mark its 20th anniversary on July 15 with deals for subscribers of its Prime shopping program in ... «TechCrunch, Jul 15»

The pegan diet: The final answer to our dietary concerns?

The latest food trend has arrived: the pegan diet, in other words, paleo plus vegan diet. By combining the best of popular paleo and vegan ... «Hindustan Times, Jul 15»

More roads not the answer to Melbourne's congestion woes …

Nine of Melbourne's major thoroughfares are rapidly reaching capacity and the city cannot just "build its way out of congestion", VicRoads chief ... «ABC Online, Jul 15»

Alexis Tsipras asked if people were happy. The answer was always …

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has just done something unthinkable. He has won the Greek referendum. And make no mistake, it was him ... «Spectator.co.uk, Jul 15»

Greek Economic Crisis: Is A 'Parallel' Currency The Answer?

Could then a parallel currency provide an answer and be an alternative for Greece? The latest bail-in development, which apparently calls for a ... «Forbes, Jul 15»

'The answer is yes'

"To all you fantasy/dreamteam/supercoach fans who keep filling my feed the answer is Yes," Rockliff tweeted. The 25-year-old broke his ribs for ... «AFL.com.au, Jul 15»

Nicky English: Kilkenny answer Galway questions quickly

It was a disappointing Leinster final for anyone who thought Galway were really going to put it up to Kilkenny and test them to the point where ... «Irish Times, Jul 15»

Watch: Kevin McHale bowls us over with this answer on 'Celebrity …

Things can go south on Celebrity Family Feud pretty quickly. You know the regions that we're talking about – the ones that fall below the belt. «USA TODAY, Jul 15»

Greece Referendum: 'No' is the answer, focus on ECB decision and …

FXStreet (Barcelona) - Analysts at UOB Group, note that the Greece referendum resulted in a 'No' vote, and ECB's decision on the ELA and ... «FXStreet, Jul 15»