reply

verb

re·​ply ri-ˈplī 

replied; replying

intransitive verb

1

a

: 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

replier

ri-ˈplī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms of reply

• respond
• react

Examples of reply in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mike Draper replied personally to set up a call. —Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026

Steinem replied shortly thereafter. —Jim Higgins, USA Today, 28 May 2026

The Crew declined to comment; Nationwide did not reply to an immediate request for comment. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 28 May 2026

That doesn’t just mean being available for strategy phone calls or instantly replying on email. —Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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.

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing reply

• reply-paid

Rhymes for reply

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

reply

1 of 2 verb

re·​ply ri-ˈplī 

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

-ˈplī(-ə)r 

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