reply

1 of 2

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

reply

2 of 2

noun

plural replies

1

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

2

: replication sense 1b(2)

Synonyms

Verb

• react
• respond

Noun

• answer
• reaction
• response
• take

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

Beyoncé is replying with other national myths: the U.S. as a cultural melting pot, a hotbed of innovation, a place whose future is more interesting than its past. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024

Officials did not reply to the concerns on Facebook. —Brooke Baitinger, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Pressman replied, theatrically enunciating the words into my digital recorder. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024

Senior official Kim Yo Jong replied by saying that there would be no breakthrough improvement in North Korea-Japan relations. —Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 1 Apr. 2024

Neither Google nor Boies Schiller Flexner immediately replied to a request for comment. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024

This year’s Worldwide Developer Conference will be the first public event where Apple can reply to the rise in AI and offer its own solutions. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

The group’s website has not been updated in recent years, and its acting president and chief executive, Lynn Dymally, did not reply to messages seeking comment on the lawsuit allegations. —Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024

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

Noun

Fox News Digital also reached out to Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom's offices but did not receive replies. NYC Mayor Eric Adams' office directed Fox News Digital to the NYPD when asked if there's concern migrants could exploit local squatting laws. —Emma Colton, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024

The Sacramento Bee reached out to the restaurant for comment, but had not received a reply as of Thursday afternoon. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024

Multiple videos — which were uploaded to TikTok — have picked up traction in the last week, with women online sharing their safety concerns in comments and reply videos. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024

Fans were quick to shower Tisdale with congratulations in the post’s replies, with many pointing out the coincidence of the Suite Life of Zack & Cody alum expecting a baby at the same time as her HSM costar, Vanessa Hudgens. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2024

Fortune reached out to the company over the weekend but received no immediate reply outside normal business hours. —Steve Mollman, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2024

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

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

Phrases Containing reply

• reply-paid

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