answer back
phrasal verb
answered back; answering back; answers back
somewhat informal
: to reply to someone especially in a rude way
impolite children who answer back when their teacher corrects them
Examples of answer back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Natick answered back just four plays later as junior Matt Caissie hit junior Brandon Leshinski for a 48-yard TD grab to cut the deficit in half, 14-7.
—
Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 15 Nov. 2025
Predictably, Carolina didn’t answer back with successful aerial strikes.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Leuzinger answered back by scoring the final 28 points in the 34-17 victory in the CIF-SS Division 2 first-round game, sending Crean Lutheran home with its first loss of the season.
—Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
That didn't seem to matter in terms of momentum, however, as the Blue Jays answered back with a pair of road victories to seize a series lead.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for answer back
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Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 15 Nov. 2025
Predictably, Carolina didn’t answer back with successful aerial strikes.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Leuzinger answered back by scoring the final 28 points in the 34-17 victory in the CIF-SS Division 2 first-round game, sending Crean Lutheran home with its first loss of the season.
—Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
That didn't seem to matter in terms of momentum, however, as the Blue Jays answered back with a pair of road victories to seize a series lead.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for answer back
Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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