reply

verb

/rɪˈplaɪ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they reply	/rɪˈplaɪ/ /rɪˈplaɪ/
he / she / it replies	/rɪˈplaɪz/ /rɪˈplaɪz/
past simple replied	/rɪˈplaɪd/ /rɪˈplaɪd/
past participle replied	/rɪˈplaɪd/ /rɪˈplaɪd/
-ing form replying	/rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/ /rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to say or write something as an answer to somebody/something
- She didn't even bother to reply.
- He was quick to reply.
- reply to somebody/something to reply to a question/an email/a query
- He hasn't replied to any of my text messages.
- She usually replies immediately to comments on her posts.
- reply with something She simply replied with a smile.
- reply to somebody/something with something He replied to her question with a scowl.
- + speech ‘I won't let you down,’ he replied confidently.
- reply that… The senator replied that he was not in a position to comment.
Which Word? answer / reply
answer / replyVerbs
- Answer and reply are the most common verbs used for speaking or writing as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.
- Note that you answer a person, question or letter, not answer to them, but you reply to somebody or something:
  I’m writing to answer your questions
  I’m writing to reply to your questions.
  I’m writing to answer to your questions.
- Answer can be used with or without an object:
  I haven’t answered her email yet.
  I knocked on the door but nobody answered.
  Reply is often used with the actual words spoken:
  ‘I won’t let you down,’ he replied.
- Respond is less common and more formal:
  The directors were unwilling to respond to questions.
- You can only answer a door or a phone.
see also rejoin2, retort, get back to somebodyNouns
- Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to:
  I’m writing in answer to your letter.
see also response, rejoinder, retort
Extra Examples
- ‘I have no idea,’ she replied calmly.
- ‘I know!’ she replied matter-of-factly.
- ‘I really don't care!’ he replied nonchalantly.
- ‘It was your fault!’ she replied angrily.
- ‘No, you're not!’ Graham replied bluntly.
- ‘OK, ’ he replied at length.
- Calvin was insulted and replied in kind (= by insulting them back).
- He didn't reply to my email.
- He simply replied that he hadn't the faintest idea.
- She did not reply directly to the allegations.
- She replied at length, but not to the point.
- Well, you weren't expecting him to reply personally, were you?
- She quickly left the room before he had a chance to reply.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- merely
- simply
- directly
- …
verb + reply
- not bother to
preposition
- to
- with
phrases
- a chance to reply
See full entry
[intransitive] to do something as a reaction to something that somebody has said or done
- reply with something Italy took an early lead but Brazil replied with two goals in the last five minutes.
- reply to something (with something) The terrorists replied to the government's statement with more violence.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- merely
- simply
- directly
- …
verb + reply
- not bother to
preposition
- to
- with
phrases
- a chance to reply
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): from Old French replier, from Latin replicare ‘repeat’, later ‘make a reply’, from re- ‘back, again’ + plicare ‘to fold’.

reply

noun

/rɪˈplaɪ/

[countable, uncountable]

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an act of replying to something/somebody in speech, writing or by some action
- I asked her what her name was but she made no reply.
- I received a reply from the firm's managing director.
- reply to something I got some interesting replies to my post about online banking.
- in reply to something (formal) I am writing in reply to your letter of 16 March.
- (British English) a reply-paid envelope (= on which you do not have to put a stamp because it has already been paid for)
- without reply (British English) Morocco scored four goals without reply to win the game.
Which Word? answer / reply
answer / replyVerbs
- Answer and reply are the most common verbs used for speaking or writing as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.
- Note that you answer a person, question or letter, not answer to them, but you reply to somebody or something:
  I’m writing to answer your questions
  I’m writing to reply to your questions.
  I’m writing to answer to your questions.
- Answer can be used with or without an object:
  I haven’t answered her email yet.
  I knocked on the door but nobody answered.
  Reply is often used with the actual words spoken:
  ‘I won’t let you down,’ he replied.
- Respond is less common and more formal:
  The directors were unwilling to respond to questions.
- You can only answer a door or a phone.
see also rejoin2, retort, get back to somebodyNouns
- Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to:
  I’m writing in answer to your letter.
see also response, rejoinder, retort
Extra Examples
- ‘I'm in here!’ came the muffled reply.
- ‘Mmm!’ she grunted in reply.
- ‘No comment’ is his standard reply to most questions.
- ‘No!’ came the reply.
- When I checked my emails that evening, there were more than ten replies in my inbox.
- A reply came back the next day.
- Grace could offer no reply.
- Have you had a reply to your letter yet?
- He made no reply, but simply walked away.
- Her reply was simple. ‘No,’ she said.
- His reply was short and to the point.
- I am grateful to you for having given me a right of reply to the article in your magazine about my company.
- I am writing in reply to your request for information on holidays in Italy.
- I await your reply with interest.
- I'll post the replies later on my web page.
- It's easy to just hit the reply button.
- Many thanks for your thoughtful reply, we greatly appreciate it.
- No reply seemed to be forthcoming.
- Please complete the reply card and return it to us as soon as possible.
- She heard no reply.
- She refused to give a straight reply, deciding rather to defer the question.
- The questionnaire produced 9 000 replies.
- The report elicited a formal reply from the department.
- They waited patiently for a reply but none seemed to be forthcoming.
- What did they say in reply?
- a reply from the minister
- my reply to your query
- He muttered a reply but I couldn't understand what he said.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- brief
- monosyllabic
- blunt
- …
verb + reply
- get
- have
- receive
- …
reply + verb
- come
- come back
- be forthcoming
- …
reply + noun
- card
- envelope
- form
- …
preposition
- in reply (to something)
- reply from
- reply to
- …
phrases
- a/the right of reply
See full entry
Word Originlate Middle English (as a verb): from Old French replier, from Latin replicare ‘repeat’, later ‘make a reply’, from re- ‘back, again’ + plicare ‘to fold’.