From Middle English answere, andsware, from Old English andswaru (“answer”), from and- (“against”) + swaru (“affirmation”), (from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“front, forehead”) and Old English swerian (“to swear”), from Proto-Indo-European *swer-), suggesting an original meaning of "a sworn statement rebutting a charge". The cognates suggest the existence of Proto-Germanic *andaswarō (“a reply to a question”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondser (“answer”), Old Saxon andswōr (“answer”), Danish and Swedish ansvar (“liability, responsibility, answer”), Icelandic andsvar (“answer, response”). Compare also Old English andwyrde (“answer”) (cognate to Dutch antwoord, German Antwort), Old English andcwiss (“reply”), German Schwur (“oath, vow”).
1
A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
When a student types a complex question into a chatbot, they get a polished (though not necessarily authentic, accurate or nuanced) answer in seconds.2025 December 9, Rachel Konrad and Matt Abrahams, “Why Young People Are Struggling to Communicate”, in TIME:
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A solution to a problem.
There is no simple answer to corruption.
Violence is not the answer to disagreements.
3
After a possessive, With to Someone or something that fills a similar role or position.
Anti-pornography crusader Mary Whitehouse, who successfully brought London's Gay News to trial recently on charges of "blasphemy," is emerging as England's answer to Anita Bryant.1977 December 3, “England's Bryant”, in Gay Community News, volume 5, number 22, page 2:
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Law A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
Etymology From Middle English answeren, andswaren, answerien, from Old English andswarian, answarien (“to answer, to respond, to deny an allegation under oath”), from Proto-Germanic *andaswarōną, *andaswarjaną (“to answer, to give a response, to rebut”), from *anda- (“against”) + *swarjaną, *swarōną (“to swear an oath, to answer, to respond”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“face, forehead”) and *swer- (“to swear”). Cognate with Old Frisian ondswera (“to answer”), Danish ansvare (“to answer, account for”), Swedish ansvara (“to answer, account for”), Icelandic andsvara (“to answer, reply”).
She answers him as if she knew his mind:1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC:
[…] there was no voice, nor any that answered.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 18:26:
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“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
He answered the question.
2
To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
to answer a charge or accusation
3
Ambitransitive To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
She answered the door.
Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
4
Ambitransitive To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
It answers the need.
Mr. Knightley had done all in his power for Mr. Woodhouse’s entertainment. Books of engravings, drawers of medals, cameos, corals, shells, and every other family collection within his cabinets, had been prepared for his old friend, to while away the morning; and the kindness had perfectly answered.1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Emma: […], volume III, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC:
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Inexperienced girl as I was, I fired at the idea of becoming his dupe, and fancying, perhaps, that there was more in merely answering his note than it would have amounted to, I said — "That kind of thing may answer very well with button-makers, but ladies don't like it. […]1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Uncle Silas:
Of course for publication in a newspaper, my palaeotype would not answer, but my glossotype would enable the author to give his Pennsylvania German in an English form and much more intelligibly.1871, Alexander J. Ellis, On Early English Pronunciation, London: Trübner & Co., Part III, Chapter 7, section 1, p. 656, footnote 1:
Theobald spoke as if watches had half-a-dozen purposes besides time-keeping, but he could hardly open his mouth without using one or other of his tags, and "answering every purpose" was one of them.1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 41, in The Way of All Flesh:
5
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
He has a lot to answer for.
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And pleaſe your Maiestie, let his Neck anſwere for it, if there is any Marſhall Law in the World.1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene viii], page 90, column 2:
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Law To file a document in response to a complaint.
7
To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, Dublin: G. Burnet et al., 1794, Act II, Scene 2, p. 25, Egad, I wish she had answer’d her picture as well.
The use of dunder in the making of rum, answers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation of flour.1793, Bryan Edwards, The History, Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies in the West Indies, Dublin: Luke White, Volume II, Book V, Chapter 2, p. 231:
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Before I knew about sex, I knew that the word queer was an insult associated with skiny boys who couldn't throw a football, and since I answered this description, I took my share of abuse.1979 December 29, John Millea, “Media Madness”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 23, page 5:
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To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon through them […]1786, William Gilpin, Observations, relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the year 1772: on several parts of England; particularly the mountains, and lakes of Cumberland, and Westmoreland, London: R. Blamire, Volume II, Section 19, p. 85:
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To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
[…] that the time may haue all ſhadow, and ſilence in it: and the place anſwere to conueniencec. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 72, column 2:
If this but answer to my just belief, / I’ll well remember you.c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry Gosson, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
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As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 27:19:
[…] I might carry about me several Weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the Bulk of so prodigious a Person.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Emperor of Lilliput, Attended by Several of the Nobility, Come to See the Author in His Confinement. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 36:
10
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
[…] no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 22:46:
These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant / Though by his blindness maim’d for high attempts, / Who now defies thee thrice to single fight,1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
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The reasoning was not and could not be answered.1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIV, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 354:
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To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
He answered my claim upon him.
The servant answered the bell.
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[…] this proud king […] studies day and night / To answer all the debts he owes unto youc. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won't answer the helm so well.1764, John Nourse, Navigation Or, the Art of Sailing Upon the Sea, page 65:
[…] I will, by to-morrow dinner-time, / Send him to answer thee, or any man, / For any thing he shall be charged withal:c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
[…] The noble Brutus / Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: / If it were so, it was a grievous fault, / And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
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Obsolete To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes 10:19: