reply

1 of 2

verb

re·​ply ri-ˈplī How to pronounce reply (audio)
replied; replying

intransitive verb

1
a
: to respond in words or writing
b
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
replier noun

reply

2 of 2

noun

plural replies
1
: something said, written, or done in answer or response
2
Choose the Right Synonym for reply

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
To reply to other posts, simply include ‘re:’ or ‘to’ the topic in the subject line of your post. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024 Over the last two years, El Trono assembled a management team of five people to run the group’s social media, tapping into trends, collaborating with influencers such as viral cumbia dancer Medio Metro, and replying to older fans’ comments on Facebook. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 The show’s titular star replied to the post with an emotional tribute too. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Bell replied to a comment on the post, in which a fan defended the Boy Meets World cast. Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 In response, Richardson reportedly replied that the note seemed too platonic and asked what the pair's relationship status was. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Reps for Messing, Leigh, Margulies, Roth, Sherman-Palladino, and Pascal did not immediately reply to EW's requests for comment. Staff Author, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Fletcher replied the forcefulness of the government messages reflected the number of deaths from COVID at a time when it was thought the vaccine would halt the pandemic. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 Craig Larsen, the company's CEO, did not reply to several attempts to contact him by phone and email. Michael Scaturro, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024
Noun
Naguib Sawiris, the scion of the Egyptian family that owned the development, curtly denied the sale in a reply on X. And no more was heard from or about the character called Mohamed al-Alawi — until late December. Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Clock did not identify that new applicant in her reply. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 There’s a share and export button under each reply, which looks like a less-than sign. David Nield / Gizmodo, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024 In reply, a video feed appears, revealing a robot arm over a bin containing various items—a pair of socks, a tube of chips, and an apple among them. Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 To which the most obvious reply can only be: What took them so long? Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 James’ brief to the panel is due March 11, and Trump's replies are due March 18. Brooke Singman, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024 But her video sparked a reply from makeup artist Erica Taylor, who understands the struggle of millennials who are constantly beaten down by the criticisms of the youths and who just want to be cool (but also want to not care). Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 When asked to comment for this article, Meta simply referred KFF Health News to the board's report and the company's reply to the report. Darius Tahir, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reply.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English replien "to fold back, oppose, repeat, respond verbally, deny, answer a legal charge," borrowed from Anglo-French replier, reploier "to bend back, respond, answer, make a replication," in part continuing continental Old & Middle French repleier, reploier "to refold (something) unfolded," replié "something folded back" (from re- re- + plier "to fold, bend"), in part going back to Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at ply entry 3, replicate entry 1

Note: Note that continental Old and Middle French repleier and its variants (continued by modern French replier) refer only to literal folding and lack the metaphoric senses of Latin and Late Latin replicāre. This has led some references (Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, Trésor de la langue française) to treat repleier as a new formation from re- and plier. The Anglo-French verb, however, continues extended senses of Latin replicāre, in particular the legal sense, and suggests that it is either a direct descendant of replicāre or was formed as its equivalent on the model of other verbs ending in -plier (compare etymologies of apply, imply). Anglo-French repliquer was borrowed directly from the Latin verb (with correspondents in Old and Middle French; compare Modern French répliquer) and was apparently not taken up by Middle English.

Noun

derivative of reply entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reply was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near reply

Cite this Entry

“Reply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reply. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reply

1 of 2 verb
re·​ply ri-ˈplī How to pronounce reply (audio)
replied; replying
1
: to respond in words or writing
reply to a letter
2
: to do something in response
especially : to return gunfire or an attack
3
: to give as an answer
replied not a word
replier noun

reply

2 of 2 noun
plural replies
: something said, written, or done in answer or response

Legal Definition

reply

noun
re·​ply
: a plaintiff's or complainant's response to a plea, allegation, or counterclaim in the defendant's answer

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