reply

verb

re·ply | \ ri-ˈplī

replied; replying

Definition of reply

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to respond in words or writing

b : echo, resound

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

noun

plural replies

Definition of reply (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : something said, written, or done in answer or response

2 : replication sense 1b(2)

Other Words from reply Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about reply

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Synonyms for reply

Synonyms: Verb

react, respond

Synonyms: Noun

answer, reaction, response, take

Choose the Right Synonym for reply

Noun

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

Fans went wild over her response, replying with their own Reputation lyrics. — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, "Taylor Swift Has the Best Reaction To A Car Crashing Into Her Home," 4 Apr. 2019 Meanwhile, August Maturo, who played Auggie in Girl Meets World, replied with a sweet message on her Instagram announcement. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, ""Girl Meets World" Star Danielle Fishel is Pregnant and Her Co-Stars Are Freaking Out!," 3 Jan. 2019 Asked if Boeing would beat SpaceX to the launchpad, Mulholland replied that he was focused on implementing Boeing's plan. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Boeing shifts schedule for Starliner, calls 2019 crew launch “realistic”," 1 Aug. 2018 Two-thirds of the 2,500-odd barristers who replied wanted the outfit to stay. — The Economist, "As temperatures rise, English lawyers’ costumes look odder than ever," 5 July 2018 The participants reply with a chorus of thanks and make their way to the bus. — Henry J. Morgan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "YMCA at Pabst Farms' fishing night offers people with disabilities a fun night on Okauchee Lake," 26 June 2018 Foles replied with a smile, the long fingers of his lanky, 6-foot-5, former basketball-playing frame swiping a Sharpie across page after page of stacks and stacks of books. — Maria Panaritis, Philly.com, "My 15 minutes with Nick Foles: He's really that special, and so is his memoir | Maria Panaritis," 30 June 2018 The user @lulu_says2, whose account has not been suspended, did not reply to a request for comment sent to an email address. — Eli Rosenberg, The Seattle Times, "How anonymous tweets helped ignite a national controversy over MAGA hat teens," 23 Jan. 2019 Google’s walkout organizers did not immediately reply to a request for comment around the policies. — Adi Robertson, The Verge, "Google announces new sexual assault and harassment rules after mass protest," 8 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Popular Mechanics has reached out to the AFA for comment regarding any potential plans for a general strike, but hasn't received a reply. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "President of Flight Attendants Union Suggests General Strike to End Government Shutdown," 23 Jan. 2019 The other replies, no time has passed and the snake has changed. — Glenn Garvin, miamiherald, "Nicaraguan cardinal was symbol of political resistance," 3 June 2018 Acknowledge that not every statement requires a reply. — Emily Depasse, Teen Vogue, "What to Say if Your Friend Has Herpes," 16 Apr. 2019 Meghan and Harry sent individual replies to each of the students, and their teacher shared one of the letters on social media. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Just Sent the Sweetest Letters to a Group of Schoolchildren," 13 Apr. 2019 Dynamic email feels somewhat like an extension of the dynamic replies that will pop up in response to an existing Gmail message, or the autocomplete functions available in Google Search: a simple tool to save time. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Update: Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook.com add 'dynamic email,' to avoid the pain of new tabs," 27 Mar. 2019 Other Reddit users added their own allegations of the same issue, with one public screenshot showing multiple, confused replies to the same support-ticket thread. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Bethesda’s attempt to fix a Fallout 76 blunder leaks angry shoppers’ PID [Updated]," 5 Dec. 2018 The Verge has contacted Google to ask for comment, but has not received a reply at the time of writing. — James Vincent, The Verge, "Google whistleblower reveals plans for censored search in China," 1 Aug. 2018 Arnav Khannah1, a young mechanical engineer who worked on the miniLab, figured out a surefire way to get Balwani off his back: answer his emails with a reply longer than 500 words. — John Carreyrou, WIRED, "A New Look Inside Theranos’ Dysfunctional Corporate Culture," 21 May 2018

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