reply

[ ri-plahy ]

/ rɪˈplaɪ /

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See synonyms for: reply / replied / replies / replying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), re·plied, re·ply·ing.

to make answer in words or writing; answer; respond: to reply to a question.

to respond by some action, performance, etc.: to reply to the enemy's fire.

to return a sound; echo; resound.

Law. to answer a defendant's plea.

verb (used with object), re·plied, re·ply·ing.

to return as an answer (usually used in a negative combination or followed by a clause with that): Not a syllable did he reply. He replied that no one would go.

noun, plural re·plies.

an answer or response in words or writing.

a response made by some action, performance, etc.

OTHER WORDS FOR reply

1 rejoin.

6 rejoinder, riposte.

See synonyms for reply on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of reply

1350–1400; Middle English replien (v.) <Middle French replier to fold back, reply <Latin replicāre to unroll, fold back; see replicate

synonym study for reply

6. See answer.

OTHER WORDS FROM reply

re·pli·er, nounun·re·plied, adjectiveun·re·ply·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use reply in a sentence

King Lear becomes Lear texting “okay who wants a kingdom,” to which Goneril replies “me me I do.”
What Would Jane Eyre Sext?|Jennie Yabroff|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be fair, these are replies to arguments put forth by the plaintiffs in the case.
All The Wrong Reasons to Ban Gay Unions|Jay Michaelson|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Like Gwyneth Paltrow,” Eliza replies, finally understanding the concept of inner beauty.
‘Selfie’ Is Both a Brilliant and Terrible TV Show|Kevin Fallon|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To which the officer replies angrily, "You're going to jail, and I'm not your brother!"
Is America a Police State? For Many, Yes|Gene Robinson|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Tell me before I forget,” Cianci replies, and when they do, he remembers a graduation, an uncle, a Little League tournament.
Can America’s Favorite Ex-Con Mayor Win Again?|David Freedlander|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even the policeman who is paid to direct you, replies to your inquiry with the shortest and gruffest monosyllable that will do.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
This heterodox opinion brought upon him a crowd of antagonistic replies, and amongst them the Rfutation of Bodin.
Notes and Queries, Number 177, March 19, 1853|Various
"Yes, Donald; but I never told you that you should swallow them," replies the pastor, who was as witty as his parishioner.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
The old man sighs and replies: “I once had to leave Paris myself”; looking at me as if he were speaking to an old resident.
The Real Latin Quarter|F. Berkeley Smith
Nothing can give more pleasure in a correspondence, than prompt replies.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for reply

/ (rɪˈplaɪ) /

verb -plies, -plying or -plied (mainly intr)

to make answer (to) in words or writing or by an action; respondhe replied with an unexpected move

(tr; takes a clause as object) to say (something) in answerhe replied that he didn't want to come

law to answer a defendant's plea

to return (a sound); echo

noun plural -plies

an answer made in words or writing or through an action; response

the answer made by a plaintiff or petitioner to a defendant's case

Derived forms of reply

replier, noun

Word Origin for reply

C14: from Old French replier to fold again, reply, from Latin replicāre to fold back, from re- + plicāre to fold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012