reply

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈplʌɪ/

verb (replies, replying, replied)

[reporting verb]
  • say something in response to something someone has said: [no object]: he was gone before we could reply to his last remark [with clause]: she replied that she had been sound asleep [with direct speech]: ‘I’m OK—just leave me alone,’ he replied
  • [no object] write back in answer to someone: she replied with a long letter the next day
  • [no object] respond by a similar action or gesture: they replied to the shelling with a heavy mortar attack

noun (plural replies)

  • a verbal or written answer: I received a reply from the managing director ‘No,’ was the curt reply
  • [mass noun] the action of answering someone or something: I am writing in reply to your letter
  • a response in the form of a gesture, action, or expression: Clough scored the first goal and Speed hit a late reply
  • Law a plaintiff’s response to the defendant’s plea.

Derivatives

replier

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French replier, from Latin replicare 'repeat', later 'make a reply' (see replicate)

Spelling rule

If a word ends in a consonant plus -y (as in defy), change the -y to an -i before adding any ending (unless the ending already begins with an -i): (replies, replying, replied).