Answer vs. Reply: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on December 25, 2023
An answer is a response given to a question or problem, often providing information or a solution, while a reply is a general response to any statement or query, not necessarily providing a solution.
Key Differences
An answer is specifically a response to a question, providing clarification, information, or solution, while a reply can be a response to any statement, question, or communication, regardless of its nature.
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Dec 25, 2023
Answers are often expected to be factual, informative, or conclusive, addressing the specific query raised, whereas replies can be more varied, including opinions, thoughts, or further questions.
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Dec 25, 2023
In formal settings, an answer is usually given to resolve a query or problem, for example in exams or interviews, while a reply can be used in both formal and informal exchanges, like in conversations or emails.
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Dec 25, 2023
Answers tend to be more focused and direct, targeting the specific point of the question, whereas replies can be broader and may not directly address the core of what was asked or stated.
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Dec 25, 2023
In legal or official contexts, an answer is a specific type of legal response to charges or claims, whereas a reply can be any general response in a conversation or correspondence.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To provide information or solve a problem
General response to any statement or query
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Nature
Factual, informative, conclusive
Can be varied, including opinions or questions
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Context
Often used in formal settings
Used in both formal and informal settings
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Focus
Directly addresses the specific question
Can be broad, not necessarily direct
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Legal/Official Use
Specific legal response to charges or claims
Any general response in conversation
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Dec 25, 2023
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Answer and Reply Definitions
Answer
A response that provides information or solution to a question.
She gave the correct answer to the math problem.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reply
A reaction to someone else's communication.
His reply to the news was surprisingly calm.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
A series of words spoken, written, or signed in reaction to a question, request, or other prompt; a reply
I wrote weeks ago but never got an answer.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
A quick or witty response or retort.
His reply to the joke made everyone laugh.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
An act that serves as a reply or response
Our only possible answer was to sue. Their answer was to ignore me.
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Dec 13, 2023
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Answer
A solution or result, as to a problem
We all got the right answer to that problem.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
To act in reaction or as a response
The enemy's bigs guns replied to the salvo.
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Answer
The correct solution or response
The teacher read the answers to the quiz aloud.
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Answer
Something markedly similar to another of the same class
Cable TV's answer to the broadcast networks' sportscasts.
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Answer
(Law) A defendant's response to the allegations that have been made against them.
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Reply
A word or a series of words spoken or written in reaction, as to a question or request.
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Answer
To speak, write, or sign as a reaction to a question or other prompt
He couldn't take the call but answered with a text message.
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Answer
To act in reaction or as a response
Their team scored, but our team answered with a quick goal.
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Reply
(Law) A plaintiff's response to the defendant's answer or plea, especially with regard to counterclaims made by the defendant.
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Answer
To be liable or accountable
You must answer for your actions to your supervisor.
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Reply
To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
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Answer
To serve the purpose; suffice
“Often I do use three words where one would answer” (Mark Twain).
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Reply
(intransitive) To act or gesture in response.
Joanne replied to Pete's insult with a slap to his face.
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Answer
To act in response to
The police answered the call for help. The soldiers answered the attack.
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Reply
A document written by a party specifically replying to a responsive declaration and in some cases an answer.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be sufficient for (a need, for instance); fulfill
“My fortune has answered my desires” (Izaak Walton).
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Reply
To make a return in words or writing; to respond; to answer.
O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
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Answer
To match or correspond to
The suspect answers the description given by the police.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
Figuratively, to do something in return for something done; as, to reply to a signal; to reply to the fire of a battery.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
To return for an answer.
Lords, vouchsafeTo give me hearing what I shall reply.
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Answer
(legal) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
That which is said, written, or done in answer to what is said, written, or done by another; an answer; a response.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
(ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to.
He answered the question.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
A statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation;
I waited several days for his answer
He wrote replies to several of his critics
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
(transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
To answer a charge or accusation
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Reply
The speech act of continuing a conversational exchange;
He growled his reply
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
(ambitransitive) To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
She answered the door.
Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
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Reply
Reply or respond to;
She didn't want to answer
Answer the question
We answered that we would accept the invitation
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
(ambitransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
It answers the need.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
A general response to a statement or question.
He quickly sent a reply to the email.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
He has a lot to answer for.
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Dec 13, 2023
Reply
A return communication in a conversation.
Her reply was thoughtful and well-composed.
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Dec 15, 2023
Reply
A part of a series of communications in a dialogue.
She awaited his reply anxiously.
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Answer
To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
He answered my claim upon him.
The servant answered the bell.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
(obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to.
She answers him as if she knew his mind.
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
No man was able to answer him a word.
These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be or act in return or response to.
This proud king . . . studies day and nightTo answer all the debts he owes unto you.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be opposite to; to face.
The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
Money answereth all things.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response.
There was no voice, nor any that answered.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To make a satisfactory response or return.
Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience.
If this but answer to my just belief,I 'll remember you.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A reply to a charge; a defense.
At my first answer no man stood with me.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action.
Great the slaughter isHere made by the Roman; great the answer beBritons must take.
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Answer
A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill.
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation;
I waited several days for his answer
He wrote replies to several of his critics
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem;
They were trying to find a peaceful solution
The answers were in the back of the book
He computed the result to four decimal places
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
The principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A nonverbal reaction;
His answer to any problem was to get drunk
Their answer was to sue me
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Reply or respond to;
She didn't want to answer
Answer the question
We answered that we would accept the invitation
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Answer
Give the correct answer or solution to;
Answer a question
Answer the riddle
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Answer
Understand the meaning of;
The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument);
The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity;
A few words would answer
This car suits my purpose well
Will $100 do?
A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school
Nothing else will serve
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
Match or correspond;
The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave
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Answer
Be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of;
This may answer her needs
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Answer
React to a stimulus or command;
The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch
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Dec 13, 2023
Answer
A solution to a problem or challenge.
Finding an answer to this puzzle is challenging.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
In legal terms, a formal response to charges or a claim.
The defendant filed an answer to the lawsuit.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
Resolving or addressing a specific issue or query.
The answer to your query is in the handbook.
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Dec 15, 2023
Answer
Fulfilling the requirement of a question.
His answer fulfilled all the criteria of the question.
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Dec 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Does an answer always solve a problem?
An answer typically aims to provide a solution or clarification to a specific query.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is the difference between a "quick reply" and a "detailed reply"?
A quick reply is brief and concise, while a detailed reply provides more information and explanation.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is an answer?
An answer is a response given to a question, often providing information or a solution.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is an "automatic reply" or "out-of-office reply"?
An automatic reply is a pre-set message that informs others you are temporarily unavailable and when you will return.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can you provide an example sentence with "reply"?
Certainly! "I received a prompt reply to my email, addressing all my questions."
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Dec 25, 2023
When do you give an answer?
An answer is given in response to a specific question or problem.
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Dec 25, 2023
When do you give a reply?
A reply is given in response to any form of communication, not just questions.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is an answer always factual?
Answers are expected to be factual, especially in formal or academic contexts.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a reply contain personal opinions?
Yes, replies can include personal opinions, thoughts, or even further questions.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are there cultural differences in how people reply to messages?
Yes, cultural norms can influence how people reply to messages, including the level of formality and response time.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is an answer always a complete response?
An answer should ideally be a complete and relevant response, but it may vary in completeness.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a reply be unrelated to the original statement?
Yes, a reply can be broader and may not directly address the original statement.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can you provide an example sentence with "answer"?
Sure! "She gave a thoughtful answer to the interviewer's question."
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Dec 25, 2023
Is a "reply" limited to one-on-one conversations?
No, a reply can be given in various types of conversations, including group discussions and online forums.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can an answer be incorrect?
Yes, an answer can be incorrect if it does not provide the accurate information or solution.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is "reply" commonly used in formal or informal communication?
"Reply" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often seen in formal written communication.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are there formal and informal types of answers?
Yes, answers can range from formal, such as in academic contexts, to informal, like casual conversations.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can you reply with silence?
Yes, silence can be a form of reply, conveying a lack of response or agreement.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is a "multiple-choice answer"?
In a multiple-choice question, an answer refers to one of the provided options to choose from.
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Dec 25, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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