2answer verb
answers; answered; answer·ing 1 a : to say or write something when someone asks you a question : to give an answer to (a question) [+ obj] ▪ She answered all my questions. ▪ He answered only three of the test questions correctly. [no obj] ▪ When the police asked him his name, he refused to answer. ▪ She answered correctly/incorrectly.
b [+ obj] : to say or write (something) as a reply
▪ When asked if she would run for office, she answered that she hadn't decided. = When asked if she would run for office, she answered “I haven't decided.”
c [+ obj] : to reply to (someone) : to say or write something as a response to (someone)
▪ When I ask you a question I expect you to answer me! ▪ Answer me this: where have you put my money? 2 a : to write a response to a letter, e-mail message, etc. [no obj] ▪ I sent her a letter asking for her help, but she never answered. [+ obj] ▪ She never answered my letter. = She never answered me.
b : to pick up (a ringing telephone) [no obj] ▪ The phone rang repeatedly, but no one answered. [+ obj] ▪ Would somebody please answer the phone? ▪ answer a phone call
c : to open a door when someone knocks on it [no obj] ▪ I knocked on the door but no one answered. [+ obj] ▪ No one answered the door. 3 : to act in response to (something) : to react to (something) by taking some action [+ obj] ▪ I got the job by answering a “help wanted” ad in the newspaper. ▪ When the war began, thousands of young men answered the call to arms. [=thousands of young men joined the armed forces] ▪ He answered her anger with indifference. [=he responded to her anger by acting indifferent] [no obj] ▪ The home team scored first but the visiting team answered quickly. [=the visiting team also scored soon after the home team scored] 4 [+ obj] : to say something in response to (something, such as an accusation) : to defend yourself against (something)
▪ The police chief will appear in court today to answer charges of corruption. ▪ answer criticism 5 [+ obj] : to be the same as (something) : to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
▪ The suspect answered [=matched] the description that had been given by the witness. — see also answer to 1 (below) 6 [+ obj] : to be what is needed for (something)
▪ We don't have a sink, but this bucket will answer [=(more commonly) serve] the purpose. [=we can use this bucket as a sink] — see also answer for 1c (below)
b [+ obj] : to say or write (something) as a reply
▪ When asked if she would run for office, she answered that she hadn't decided. = When asked if she would run for office, she answered “I haven't decided.”
c [+ obj] : to reply to (someone) : to say or write something as a response to (someone)
▪ When I ask you a question I expect you to answer me! ▪ Answer me this: where have you put my money?
b : to pick up (a ringing telephone) [no obj] ▪ The phone rang repeatedly, but no one answered. [+ obj] ▪ Would somebody please answer the phone? ▪ answer a phone call
c : to open a door when someone knocks on it [no obj] ▪ I knocked on the door but no one answered. [+ obj] ▪ No one answered the door.
▪ The police chief will appear in court today to answer charges of corruption. ▪ answer criticism
▪ The suspect answered [=matched] the description that had been given by the witness. — see also answer to 1 (below)
▪ We don't have a sink, but this bucket will answer [=(more commonly) serve] the purpose. [=we can use this bucket as a sink] — see also answer for 1c (below)
answer back [phrasal verb] 1 somewhat informal : to reply to someone especially in a rude way
▪ impolite children who answer back [=talk back] when their teacher corrects them 2 answer (someone) back : to reply rudely to (someone)
▪ He became angry when she answered him back.
▪ impolite children who answer back [=talk back] when their teacher corrects them
▪ He became angry when she answered him back.
answer for [phrasal verb] 1 answer for (something) a : to take responsibility for (something)
▪ I can't answer for their safety. [=I can't promise that they will be safe] : to be responsible for (something) ▪ The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees. ▪ She has a lot to answer for. [=she is responsible for many bad things that have happened]
b : to be punished for (something)
▪ He must answer for his crimes.
c US : to be used as (something) : to serve as (something)
▪ The old bucket answered for a sink. [=the old bucket was used as a sink] — see also 2answer 6 (above) 2 answer for (someone) : to say what someone else thinks : to give the opinion of (someone else)
▪ I like the proposal myself, but I can't answer for my boss.
▪ I can't answer for their safety. [=I can't promise that they will be safe] : to be responsible for (something) ▪ The company will have to answer for any damage done by its employees. ▪ She has a lot to answer for. [=she is responsible for many bad things that have happened]
b : to be punished for (something)
▪ He must answer for his crimes.
c US : to be used as (something) : to serve as (something)
▪ The old bucket answered for a sink. [=the old bucket was used as a sink] — see also 2answer 6 (above)
▪ I like the proposal myself, but I can't answer for my boss.
answer someone's prayers
: to provide what someone hopes or prays for
▪ They hoped that God would answer their prayers and restore their son's health. ▪ Their prayers were answered when their son's health was restored.
▪ They hoped that God would answer their prayers and restore their son's health. ▪ Their prayers were answered when their son's health was restored.
answer to [phrasal verb] 1 answer to (something) : to be the same as (something) : to be in agreement with (something, such as a description)
▪ The suspect answers to [=answers, matches] the description perfectly. — see also 2answer 5 (above) 2 answer to (someone) : to be required to explain your actions to (someone)
▪ He has to answer to a tough boss. 3 answer to a name ◊If an animal, such as a dog, answers to a name, it responds when it is called by that name.
▪ This dog answers to the name (of) “Rover.” This phrase is also used to refer to the name used by a person. ▪ My uncle's real name is “Edwin,” but he doesn't answer to that name. He prefers to be called “Ed.”
▪ The suspect answers to [=answers, matches] the description perfectly. — see also 2answer 5 (above)
▪ He has to answer to a tough boss.
▪ This dog answers to the name (of) “Rover.” This phrase is also used to refer to the name used by a person. ▪ My uncle's real name is “Edwin,” but he doesn't answer to that name. He prefers to be called “Ed.”
— an·swer·er 
/ˈænsɚɚ/ noun, plural an·swer·ers [count]
/ˈænsɚɚ/ noun, plural an·swer·ers [count]
