answering machine

Definition of answering machine

: a machine that receives telephone calls by playing a recorded message and usually by recording messages from callers

Examples of answering machine in a Sentence

I haven't spoken to him yet, but he left a message on my answering machine.

Recent Examples on the Web The message on the farm’s answering machine gives the latest picking information. — Hannah Herrera Greenspan, chicagotribune.com, "20 apple orchards and pumpkin patches open this fall around the Chicago area," 18 Sep. 2020 Started crying, right there on my coach’s answering machine. — Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: 'Greatest game ever pitched' starred Sandy Koufax ... and my high school coach," 9 Sep. 2020 The voice mail greeting on his answering machine said it was turned off. — John Reinan, Star Tribune, "Minnesota seeks to punish rodeo organizers who bucked governor's safety order," 1 Aug. 2020 Sponsor is not obligated to leave voice mail, answering machine or other messages. — Washington Post, "21st annual Travel photo contest: Official rules," 1 July 2020 As a disheveled adult Katharina descends the stairs, the answering machine goes off with a cheery greeting from Ines and Michael Kahnwald. — Ashley Chervinski, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Netflix’s Dark Final Season Recap," 28 June 2020 When answering machines became available, people adopted them without losing confidence in the telephone system. — K.n.c., The Economist, "The value of freeing ideas, not just locking them up," 8 Nov. 2019 Authorities had issued a harassing communications warrant on July 6 after Vernon Florence filed a complaint that Sims had left several threatening messages on his answering machine. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, "Man convicted of Jefferson County double killing dies in prison," 26 Dec. 2019 After an hour-long drive home, there were two messages on my answering machine. — Gary Trust, Billboard, "Elmo on 40 Years of 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,' The 'Cute Gag Gift' That Keeps On Giving," 19 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'answering machine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about answering machine

Dictionary Entries near answering machine

answer for (someone)

answer for (something)

answering machine

answering pennant

answering service

Statistics for answering machine

Last Updated

23 Sep 2020

Cite this Entry

“Answering machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answering%20machine. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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