reply

1 of 2

verb

re·​ply ri-ˈplī How to pronounce reply (audio)
replied; replying
Synonyms of replynext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to respond in words or writing
b
: echo, resound
c
: to make a legal replication
2
: to do something in response
specifically : to return gunfire or an attack

transitive verb

: to give as an answer
replier
ri-ˈplī(-ə)r How to pronounce reply (audio)
noun

reply

2 of 2

noun

plural replies
1
: something said, written, or done in answer or response
2
: replication sense 1b(2)

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for reply

answer, response, reply, rejoinder, retort mean something spoken, written, or done in return.

answer implies the satisfying of a question, demand, call, or need.

had answers to all their questions

response may imply a quick or spontaneous reaction to a person or thing that serves as a stimulus.

a response to the call for recruits

reply often suggests a thorough response to all issues, points, or questions raised.

a point-by-point reply to the accusation

rejoinder can be a response to a reply or to an objection.

a salesman with a quick rejoinder to every argument

retort implies a reaction to an implicit or explicit charge, criticism, or attack which contains a countercharge or counterattack.

she made a cutting retort to her critics

Examples of reply in a Sentence

Verb I called out to them, but no one replied. He didn't reply to her greeting. The company has replied to the recent protests by posting an ad in the local newspaper. She replied to the accusation with a stack of documents proving her innocence. He replied politely that he felt a little better. Noun A timely reply will be appreciated. The invitations have been sent, but we haven't received any replies yet. I asked her what was wrong. In reply, she handed me a letter. He wrote a brief note in reply to her letter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Price’s office did not reply to a request for comment as of Saturday morning. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024 The sheriff's office did not immediately reply to USA TODAY's request for comment Monday. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Swifties, Chiefs and Eagles fans seemed to unite on the opinion that Kelce had done nothing wrong and was just standing up for his brother, which was reflected in many of the replies to @thisisvertrying's video. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 The free service is open to any interested industry professional and promises a reply within 48 hours. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reply 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English replien "to fold back, oppose, repeat, respond verbally, deny, answer a legal charge," borrowed from Anglo-French replier, reploier "to bend back, respond, answer, make a replication," in part continuing continental Old & Middle French repleier, reploier "to refold (something) unfolded," replié "something folded back" (from re- re- + plier "to fold, bend"), in part going back to Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at ply entry 3, replicate entry 1

Note: Note that continental Old and Middle French repleier and its variants (continued by modern French replier) refer only to literal folding and lack the metaphoric senses of Latin and Late Latin replicāre. This has led some references (Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Trésor de la langue française) to treat repleier as a new formation from re- and plier. The Anglo-French verb, however, continues extended senses of Latin replicāre, in particular the legal sense, and suggests that it is either a direct descendant of replicāre or was formed as its equivalent on the model of other verbs ending in -plier (compare etymologies of apply, imply). Anglo-French repliquer was borrowed directly from the Latin verb (with correspondents in Old and Middle French; compare Modern French répliquer) and was apparently not taken up by Middle English.

Noun

derivative of reply entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reply was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing reply

Dictionary Entries Near reply

replume

reply

reply card

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Reply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reply. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

reply

1 of 2 verb
re·​ply ri-ˈplī How to pronounce reply (audio)
replied; replying
1
: to respond in words or writing
reply to a letter
2
: to do something in response
especially : to return gunfire or an attack
3
: to give as an answer
replied not a word
replier
-ˈplī(-ə)r How to pronounce reply (audio)
noun

reply

2 of 2 noun
plural replies
: something said, written, or done in answer or response

Legal Definition

reply

noun
re·​ply
: a plaintiff's or complainant's response to a plea, allegation, or counterclaim in the defendant's answer

More from Merriam-Webster on reply

Nglish: Translation of reply for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reply for Arabic Speakers

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