What does answer mean?
Word: Answer
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Answer means to reply when someone asks you something or calls you. As a noun, an answer is the reply itself, such as the result of a sum.
Synonyms: reply, respond
Antonyms: ask
How do you spell answer?
Syllables: an - swer
Tricky part: The w is silent, so many children leave it out and write anser.
Watch out for: anser, anwser
Memory tip: Sword and answer share a secret: each has a w that you write but never say.
Idioms and Phrases
- answer back: to reply rudely to an older person or someone in charge Example: "Our teacher says it is never polite to answer back."
Answer in a sentence
Example 1: Raise your hand if you know the answer.
Example 2: Please answer the phone; I am frying puris.
Example 3: Didi wrote every answer in neat, joined handwriting.
Fun Fact
Long ago, in Old English, the word was andswaru, a sworn reply made against a charge. The swear part explains the w we still write today.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) question
b) answar
c) teacher
d) lesson
Show answer
b) answar. Question, lesson and teacher are spelt correctly; answer ends in er, not ar.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
answer
a) question
b) response
c) result
d) solution
Show answer
a) question. Result, response and solution can all name an answer; a question is what an answer replies to.
Word Makeup
Choose the suffix that completes the word:
answer
a) abel
b) ible
c) eble
d) able
Show answer
d) able. A question you can answer is answerable, with the same able as in readable.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
wnersa
a) aswner
b) ansewr
c) answer
d) asnwer
Show answer
c) answer. Six letters make the word you write when a teacher asks you something.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which sentence uses answer as a doing word?
a) The answer is ten.
b) Please answer the door.
c) Her answer was correct.
d) I lost my answer sheet.
Show answer
b) Please answer the door.
2. When the phone rings and you answer it, you ____.
a) switch it off quickly
b) call a different number
c) pick it up and speak
d) let it ring until it stops
Show answer
c) pick it up and speak
