reply

1 of 2

verb

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

intransitive verb

1
a
: to respond in words or writing
b
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 noun

reply

2 of 2

noun

plural replies
1
: something said, written, or done in answer or response
2
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
Verb
Neither did Reddit, which famously banned its once-popular r/The_Donald forum, or Rumble, a right-wing video site known for its affiliation with Donald Trump Jr. The seven companies that replied each pointed me to their community guidelines. Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Four pills a day for the past eight months, the wife replied. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Murdoch’s office did not reply to a request for further information on the timing and location of his upcoming wedding. Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Reps for Netflix, France and Berk did not reply to PEOPLE's request for comment. Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 In July last year the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, replied to a tweet from Swift about new tour dates in Europe. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Neither OpenAI nor Microsoft immediately replied to WIRED’s request for comment. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 Four of the nine members of the MATC District Board replied. Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 At press time, Karol’s team had not replied to inquiries for comment on the Van Nuys emergency landing. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
But her video sparked a reply from makeup artist Erica Taylor, who understands the struggle of millennials who are constantly beaten down by the criticisms of the youths and who just want to be cool (but also want to not care). Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 When asked to comment for this article, Meta simply referred KFF Health News to the board's report and the company's reply to the report. Darius Tahir, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Does the firm reply to any negative reviews, and if so, how? Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Has Value, and So Do You If you have been disabled, especially at work, then the consequences to you can be serious and long-lasting. David Stubblefield, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 Footage of a recent anti-immigration protest broadcast by Russian outlet RT, for example, was racking up thousands of views this week on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and prompting angry replies from other users. David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 In short, the AI system is told to produce a set of further instructions in its replies. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 Miller was diligent about his correspondence, according to Julia Bolus, the director of the Arthur Miller Trust and the playwright’s former assistant, but a reply of this length was exceptional. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 My friend asked what my thoughts were on a vulgar subject and my reply was neutral. Susan Johnston, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024 The door into the surveillance room shudders, cutting short anything Anton might have said in reply. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reply.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near reply

Cite this Entry

“Reply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reply. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!