noun

A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.

Something given in reply.

A counterattack.

(music) The answer of a figure.

(US, law) A document written by a party specifically replying to a responsive declaration and in some cases an answer.

verb

(transitive, intransitive) To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.

(intransitive) To act or gesture in response.

(intransitive) To repeat something back; to echo.

Roots

plico-ply · Latin · fold

Synonyms for reply

answern responsen respondv rejoindern respondencen responsionn retortn counterblastn riposten rebuttaln messagen refutationn

Synonyms & related words for reply

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of reply — including answer, response, respond, rejoinder, respondence, responsion. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to reply

Explore words related to reply — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include counterreply, answerers, questions, emails, querist, comment, unanswered, irresponsive. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for reply

Common synonyms for reply include answer, response, respond, rejoinder, respondence, responsion, retort, counterblast — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does reply come from?

The word reply breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -ply, from Latin plico (“fold”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.