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
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.
Trubisky answered back in an end-of-game situation with his unit down 1 point, hitting two passes of 20-plus yards that helped set it up for a go-ahead field goal for its game simulation. Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025 Baltimore answered back with three of their own, but their bases-loaded, one-out threat was cut short. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025 The Rays answered back with six runs in the sixth inning in what eventually became a 7-5 victory for Tampa Bay at Citi Field on Friday night. Fiifi Frimpong, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025 Edmonton answered back with three more unanswered goals, and the last one gave them a win. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for answer back

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on answer back

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!