reply

The word “reply” means to give a spoken or written answer to a question, message, or accusation. In plain terms, to answer, or the answer itself.

“Reply” is pronounced rih-PLEYE (/ɹɪˈplaɪ/ in IPA).

Here is “reply” used in a sentence: “He didn't know how to reply to such a strange question.”

Words with a similar meaning to “reply” include respond, answer back, react, rejoin, counter and revert.

Depending on how it is used, “reply” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “reply” comes from Latin. From Old French replier, from Latin replicare ("to fold back"), which in medieval usage came to mean "to answer" — the same root as "replicate" and "replica.".

“Reply” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Reply” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give a spoken or written answer to a question, message, or accusation.

To reply is to give a direct answer to a specific message, question, or letter. To respond is broader — it can mean answering with words, but also reacting through action or behavior. You reply to an email; you might respond to a crisis. Every reply is a response, but not every response is a reply.

The two overlap, but there's a subtle difference. 'Answer' usually responds to a question or solves a problem. 'Reply' responds to a message, letter, or remark, whether or not a question was asked. You answer a question, but you reply to an invitation. Reply focuses on the exchange; answer on the resolution.

It can be both. As a verb, it means to answer — 'please reply soon.' As a noun, it means the answer itself — 'I'm still waiting for a reply.' The form doesn't change between the two uses; context and surrounding words show whether it's the action or the thing.

'She replied to his letter within a day,' or 'He didn't reply to my text.' It can also introduce speech: '"Of course," she replied.' In each case, someone is giving a spoken or written answer to something that came before.