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
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
The Duffers already worked out the answer back in season 4, Ross confirms.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for answer back
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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
The Duffers already worked out the answer back in season 4, Ross confirms.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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 12 Nov. 2025.
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