the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims

11 more meanings

05noun

a nonverbal reaction

“his answer to any problem was to get drunk”

“their answer was to sue me”

06verb

react verbally

“She didn't want to answer”

“answer the question”

07verb

respond to a signal

“answer the door”

“answer the telephone”

08verb

give the correct answer or solution to

“answer a question”

“answer the riddle”

09verb

understand the meaning of

“The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered”

10verb

give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument)

“The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution”

11verb

be liable or accountable

“She must answer for her actions”

12verb

be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

“A few words would answer”

“This car suits my purpose well”

13verb

match or correspond

“The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave”

14verb

be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of

“This may answer her needs”

15verb

react to a stimulus or command

“The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

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Expressions with “answer”

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answer for evasive answer