Answer
Answer noun - Something spoken or written in reaction especially to a question.
Usage example: the standard answer of “Fine, thank you” when asked, “How are you?”
Reply is a synonym for answer in response topic. In some cases you can use "Reply" instead the word "Answer" as a noun or a verb, when it comes to topics like speech, ask, acknowledgement, retort. popular alternative
Reply
Reply noun - Action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior.
Usage example: decided the best reply to a wrongful discharge from employment was a lawsuit claiming discrimination
Answer is a synonym for reply in response topic. You can use "Answer" instead the word "Reply" as a noun or a verb, if it concerns topics such as speech, ask, acknowledgement, retort. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
| long | long answer | long reply |
| usual | usual answer | usual reply |
| common | common answer | common reply |
| right | right answer | right reply |
| Other adjectives: original, correct, reasonable, proper, accurate, obvious, simple, sarcastic, actual, real, wrong, dishonest, bad, quick, immediate, vague, general. | ||
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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Word of God: On the threads, both Faria and Harper actively reply and answer the readers' questions, which leads to a very active fanbase.
Source: Fan Fic / Co Op Mode -
It reverses causality: instead of your reply being based on the correct answer, the correct answer is based on your reply.
Source: Schrödinger's Question - Spider-Man's reply is along the lines "If you have to ask, you will never know the answer."
Cite this Source
Reply and Answer. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/answer/reply
Answer & Reply. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/answer/reply>.
Reply or Answer. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/answer/reply.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "answer" and "reply" have occurred on timeline