reply
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to make answer in words or writing; answer; respond.
to reply to a question.
- Synonyms:
- rejoin
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to respond by some action, performance, etc..
to reply to the enemy's fire.
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to return a sound; echo; resound.
-
Law. to answer a defendant's plea.
verb (used with object)
verb
-
to make answer (to) in words or writing or by an action; respond
he replied with an unexpected move
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(tr; takes a clause as object) to say (something) in answer
he replied that he didn't want to come
-
law to answer a defendant's plea
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to return (a sound); echo
noun
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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
Synonym Usage
See answer.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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replysimple
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repliessimple
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have repliedperfect
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has repliedperfect
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am replyingprogressive
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are replyingprogressive
-
is replyingprogressive
-
have been replyingperfect progressive
-
has been replyingperfect progressive
Past
-
repliedsimple
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had repliedperfect
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was replyingprogressive
-
were replyingprogressive
-
had been replyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reply
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English replien (verb), from Middle French replier “to fold back, reply,” from Latin replicāre “to unroll, fold back”; see replicate
Explanation
Whenever you say something in response to someone, you reply. If your teacher asks why you're late to school, you might reply, "Sorry, I missed the bus." To answer back or respond is to reply, and whatever you say is also a reply. Your reply could be a long quotation from a Shakespeare soliloquy, or it might be a simple, silent nod of the head. You can also reply using a letter, a text, or an email. Reply comes from the Late Latin replicare, which means both "to reply or repeat," but also "to fold back."
Vocabulary lists containing reply
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The first-half display was arguably the best since the Spaniard took charge, but the second was categorically their worst as they conceded four times without reply inside 25 minutes.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
MarketWatch approached Situational Awareness for comment by email but no reply was received yet.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
The message from Stenberg that preceded Adeyemi’s reply was not shown in full.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Amy’s certified public accountant wrote that the bookkeeper was under “direction to not reply or provide information” to one of Sandy’s attorneys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
“It’s nice to meet you, Candace,” I reply, not sure what the right response should be.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
“You work with someone as talented as David and Quentin, they make the work easy,” he replies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
He has attracted positive and negative attention for the rate at which he posts, comments, likes and replies across multiple platforms including X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Now her Reddit comment history is full of replies to posts about infant loss and avoidant partners, offering advice, support, and stories of her own experience.
From Slate ● Jul. 19, 2026
The site uses crowd-sourced information from its users and analytics to track employer replies to job applicants, according to Baxamoosa.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
Grandma replies, “Lafayette is known all throughout this area for her alligator sausage gumbo. It’s a local treasure.”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
When asked if he believed Matar was motivated to carry out the fatwa, Rushdie replied: "I had no knowledge of that. I have my suspicions," according to US media.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
Tracy asked for recommendations for private care companies on Facebook and Harris - a former neighbour she had known for years - replied saying: "Have you forgotten about me? I'm a carer."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
“I’m his lawyer,” Blanche replied, before correcting himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
But Mr. Page preferred the studio over the stage at the time and replied, “are you familiar with a guitarist named Jeff Beck?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
"It's too late for that, my friend," Sancho replied.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
You can also reach us by replying to any newsletter, or by emailing our editors Perry Cleveland-Peck at [email protected] and David Smagalla at [email protected].
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Mallory is known for apparently replying to a reporter's question as to why he wanted to climb Everest with the words "because it's there".
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Not replying to a phone call within a few hours may cause resentment.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
Audio recordings from the cockpit captured one pilot asking the other why he had done it, with the other replying that he had not.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
I turn off my phone without replying and wipe at my lip.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
