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# reply

«reply» in Mova's school dictionary: **to answer, in words, writing or action** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (reply, replies, replied, replying); noun (a reply, replies)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To reply is to answer, in words, writing or action. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#m1)

2) A reply is an answer to a question, letter or message. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In manners lessons, reply politely to greetings, invitations and messages; «Reply to all» sends to everyone on a message. In online safety, do not reply to messages from strangers or to mean messages — tell an adult and keep a copy. In writing, a «reply letter» answers someone else's letter. Phrases: «reply to», «in reply to», «no reply».

### examples

- She replied with a smile. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x1)
- Please reply to the party invitation by Friday. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x2)
- I knocked but there was no reply. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x3)
- He wrote a reply to his pen pal. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x4)
- Don't reply to messages from strangers. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x5)
- «Yes, please,» she replied. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x6)
- In reply to your question, the answer is 12. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x7)
- Wait for a reply before you go in. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x8)
- For reply came a low growl. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/#x9)

### note

Spelling: replies, replied (y → i), but replying keeps y. Say «reply to someone», not «reply someone». «Reply» is a bit more formal than «answer».

### In the corpora

- [Job hunting means searching adverts and sending applications, often dozens before getting anywhere; many get no reply at all.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/3-finding-a-job-and-getting-on/5/)
- [Families don't owe the street their news first; when a baby arrives, the kind reply is «congratulations».](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/42-our-street-feuds-newcomers-and-stories-that-grow/15/)
- [In December 2022 a Netflix series told Harry and Meghan's side of their story; others in it did not reply on camera.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/44-the-royal-family-in-the-news-a-wedding-a-move-to-america-an-interview-and-a-book/19/)
- [A chatbot's friendly greeting is the kind of reply its training makes likely; it does not mean someone is alive inside it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/1-what-is-ai/7/)
- [«No, not one little song,» replied the Rat firmly, though his heart bled.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/72-willows-ch12-part3-no-speeches-and-no-songs/35/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «reply» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reply/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.