answer
answer
Pronunciation
Answer: /ˈænsər/
an-: /ˈæn/
swer: /sər/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: answer
Plural Noun: answers
Verb (base form): answer
Verb (third-person singular present): answers
Verb (present participle): answering
Verb (past tense/past participle): answered
Adjective (derived from verb): answering (e.g., "an answering machine")
Adverb (derived from noun/verb): answerable (less common as a direct adverb, more often an adjective, but implies the ability to be answered or held accountable)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A direct reply or response to a question, query, or statement.
Synonyms: response, reply, rejoinder, comeback
Antonyms: question, inquiry, query, challenge
The correct solution to a problem, puzzle, or calculation.
Synonyms: solution, resolution, result, key
Antonyms: problem, puzzle, enigma, mystery
Verb
To provide a reply or response to a question, query, or statement.
Synonyms: respond, reply, retort, rejoin
Antonyms: ask, question, inquire, challenge
To solve or provide the solution to a problem, puzzle, or calculation.
Synonyms: solve, resolve, figure out, decipher
Antonyms: pose, present, mystify, confuse
To take responsibility for one's actions or decisions; to be accountable.
Synonyms: account, explain, justify, defend
Antonyms: evade, shirk, neglect, ignore
Examples of Use
Books:
"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind." (Bob Dylan, Blowin' in the Wind, a song lyric often quoted in literature and discussions about social change.)
"He closed his eyes, searching for an answer to the riddle of her silence." (From a fictional novel exploring character introspection.)
Newspapers:
"Economists debate whether the latest interest rate hike will answer inflation concerns." (From a headline in The Wall Street Journal discussing economic policy.)
"Local residents demand answers from city council regarding the proposed zoning changes." (From a news report in a local newspaper covering a community meeting.)
Online Publications:
"AI breakthroughs promise to answer some of humanity's most pressing scientific questions, from climate change to disease." (From an article on Wired.com about artificial intelligence.)
"Our guide to troubleshooting common tech issues provides the answers you need to get back online." (From a support article on TechCrunch.)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Movies: "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!" followed by, "I answered the question!" (Dialogue from the movie A Few Good Men, where a character demands an answer.)
Television Series: "Tonight, we seek the answer to who truly committed the crime in the season finale of 'The Detective's Casebook'." (A promotional voiceover for a mystery show on a streaming platform like Netflix or Hulu.)
Music (Lyrics): "Is there anybody out there? Does anybody answer?" (From the Pink Floyd song "Is There Anybody Out There?", exploring themes of isolation and communication.)
Video Games: "To progress to the next level, you must answer the Sphinx's riddle." (Instruction given to a player in a role-playing video game.)
General Public Discourse:
"I've sent three emails, but she still hasn't answered me about the project deadline." (A common complaint in a professional setting.)
"That's a difficult question to answer without more information." (A common phrase used in conversations when a direct response is not readily available.)
"We need to find an answer to the rising cost of living." (A statement made in a public forum or political debate.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Answer
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing — never stop seeking the answer." — Albert Einstein (adapted)
"The greatest gift is not being afraid to question — the answer will shape your soul." — Ruby Dee
"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." — Bruce Lee
"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." — Dr. Seuss
"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul… It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart — the answer will come in silence." — Mahatma Gandhi (adapted)
"The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind." — Bob Dylan
"The answer to life is to be found in the living of it." — Carl Jung (paraphrased from lectures and essays)
"You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to find them." — Brené Brown
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how — the answer is in the purpose." — Friedrich Nietzsche (adapted)
"Love is the answer, and you know that for sure." — John Lennon
Etymology
The word "answer" has a fascinating history that takes us all the way back to Old English, which was spoken before the year 1150.
The very first known uses of "answer" (both as a noun and a verb) appear in Old English. At that time, the word was "andsvaru" (as a noun) and "andswarian" (as a verb).
To understand where it comes from, we need to break it down into two parts:
"and-": This part meant "against" or "facing." Think of it like a prefix that suggests opposition or direct contact.
"-swaru" (related to "swear"): This part is connected to the Old English word "swerian," which meant "to swear" or "to make a solemn statement."
So, when you put these two pieces together, "andsvaru" or "andswarian" originally meant something like "a sworn statement rebutting a charge" or "to make a sworn statement against something." Imagine someone in ancient times making a formal, perhaps even oath-backed, reply to an accusation or a question. It wasn't just any old reply; it carried the weight of a solemn declaration.
Over time, the meaning broadened. By around the year 1300, "answer" also came to mean "the solution to a problem," showing how its usage expanded beyond just spoken replies to include finding solutions.
You can still see traces of its "swear" connection in words like "accountable" or being "answerable for" something, where it implies taking responsibility, almost like you've sworn to handle the consequences.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Answer
Answer the door: To open the door when someone knocks or rings.
Answer the phone: To pick up a ringing telephone and speak.
Answer to someone/something: To be accountable or responsible to someone or for something.
Answer for (one's actions): To take responsibility or face consequences for what one has done.
Not take no for an answer: To be persistent and refuse to accept refusal.
The answer to a maiden's prayer: Something that perfectly fulfills a deeply desired wish or need.
Have all the answers: To be overly confident or presumptuous about knowing everything.
Answer a call/summons: To respond to a formal request or demand to appear.
The only answer: The sole possible or correct solution or response.
Answering machine: An electronic device or feature that records telephone messages.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of answer from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
