reply

reply — verb

1. to say, write, or signal back when someone has asked a question, sent a message,

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to say, write, or signal back when someone has asked a question, sent a message, or spoken to you.

Example

Mizuki replied to the email within an hour of receiving it.

reply + to + noun for answering a message

When the judge asked if he understood the charge, Hamza replied that he did.

reply + that-clause for reported answer

Common collocations
  • reply promptly
  • reply politely
  • reply in writing
  • reply to a letter
  • reply to a question
  • reply to a comment
Synonyms
  • answer

    more common in everyday speech; can take a direct object ('answer the phone')

  • respond

    slightly more formal than 'reply'; common in official or professional contexts

  • write back

    informal phrasal verb, used only for letters, emails, or text messages

Antonyms
  • ask

    the initiating action that prompts a reply

  • ignore

    to deliberately not reply

Grammar Patterns

reply + to + noun (person or thing answered)

reply + that-clause

reply + with + noun

reply + direct speech

Usage Note

Unlike 'answer', 'reply' cannot take a direct object for the person being addressed. You must say 'reply to someone', not 'reply someone'. Repeated or missed replies often appear with prepositions 'to' and 'with'.

Common Mistakes

I replied him yesterday.
I replied to him yesterday.
'reply' needs 'to' before the person being answered.
She replied the question quickly.
She replied to the question quickly.
'reply' cannot take the question or message as a direct object.

2. to take action in return for something another person has done, especially to co

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to take action in return for something another person has done, especially to counter or match their action — for example, a company replying to a rival's price cut by lowering its own prices.

Example

The army replied to the attack by launching a counter-strike at dawn.

reply + to + noun + by + verb-ing for describing a counter-action

Inês's company replied to the price cuts by offering free shipping for a month.

Common collocations
  • reply with force
  • reply by doing something
  • reply to criticism
  • reply to an attack
  • reply to a challenge
Synonyms
  • react

    broader in meaning; includes emotional and involuntary responses, not only deliberate counter-actions

  • answer

    can be used for actions as well as words, but less common for describing a tactical response

  • retaliate

    stronger and more negative — implies a harmful or punishing response

Antonyms
  • ignore

    to take no action in response

  • accept

    to receive an action without resisting or countering

Grammar Patterns

reply + to + noun (action or situation)

reply + by + verb-ing

reply + with + noun (counter-action)

Usage Note

Common in military, business, and sports contexts. The action that follows 'reply' is typically deliberate and intended to have an effect. Usually followed by 'to' + the situation, then 'by' or 'with' + the counter-action.

Common Mistakes

The company replied the criticism by issuing a statement.
The company replied to the criticism by issuing a statement.
this sense also requires 'to' before the thing being responded to.
The team replied with winning the next match.
The team replied by winning the next match.
use 'by' + gerund for actions, not 'with' + gerund.

reply — noun

Word family

  • replier
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe giving a response, but they differ in formality and grammar. 'Answer' is the most common and flexible: you can answer a question, a phone, or a person directly ('answer the teacher'). 'Reply' requires 'to' before the person or thing ('reply to the teacher') and is slightly more formal. 'Respond' is the most formal of the three and is preferred in official, medical, or academic writing ('Patients responded well to the treatment'). 'Write back' and 'get back to' are informal phrasal verbs: 'Write back' is limited to letters and messages, while 'get back to' is used for delaying a full reply ('I'll get back to you tomorrow'). For everyday answering, 'answer' is your safest choice; for formal correspondence, use 'respond' or 'reply'.

answer ↗respond ↗write back ↗get back to

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in reply to
  • by way of reply
  • no reply
  • without reply

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'replicare' (to fold back), via Old French 'replier'. The 'fold back' image originally described turning a written message back to the sender; by the 1500s it had broadened to any spoken or written answer.