Replying — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ri-ˈplī/ re·ply

Meaning & Definition of Replying

Replying (verb)

  1. to respond in words or writing
  2. echo, resound
  3. to make a legal replication

Replying (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence)

    "replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering"

    similar: reacting, responding
    related: answering, returning, retaliating, construing, interpreting, reading, taking, understanding, contending (with), coping (with), grappling (with), handling, managing, negotiating
    near: acting, behaving, affecting, causing, drawing, effecting

  2. to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction

    "please reply to my question at your earliest convenience"

    similar: answering, coming back, rejoining, responding, retorting, returning, riposting
    related: acknowledging, commenting, communicating, corresponding, reacting, remarking, countering, defending, denying, explaining, fielding, rebutting, refuting
    opposite: asking, inquiring, questioning
    near: challenging, cross-examining, examining, grilling, interrogating, pumping, quizzing, polling, querying, surveying

Related Entry: Reply (verb)

Reply is a different word from Replying. The synonyms below are for reply, not for replying.

  1. to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence)

    "replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering"

    similar: react, respond
    related: answer, return, retaliate, construe, interpret, read, take, understand, contend (with), cope (with), grapple (with), handle, manage, negotiate
    near: act, behave, affect, cause, draw, effect

  2. to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction

    "please reply to my question at your earliest convenience"

    similar: answer, come back, rejoin, respond, retort, return, riposte
    related: acknowledge, comment, communicate, correspond, react, remark, counter, defend, deny, explain, field, rebut, refute
    opposite: ask, inquire, question
    near: challenge, cross-examine, examine, grill, interrogate, pump, quiz, poll, query, survey

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Replying

The most common words with a similar meaning to Replying:

reacting, responding, answering, coming back, rejoining, retorting, returning, riposting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Replying

Words with the opposite meaning of Replying:

asking, inquiring, questioning

Related Words for Replying

retaliating, construing, interpreting, reading, taking, understanding, contending (with), coping (with), grappling (with), handling, managing, negotiating, acknowledging, commenting, communicating, corresponding, remarking, countering, defending, denying, explaining, fielding, rebutting, refuting

Near Antonyms of Replying

acting, behaving, affecting, causing, drawing, effecting, challenging, cross-examining, examining, grilling, interrogating, pumping, quizzing, polling, querying, surveying

Word Forms of Replying

Inflections: replied

Derived words: replier (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Replying

Middle English replien "to fold back, oppose, repeat, respond verbally, deny, answer a legal charge," borrowed from Anglo-French replier, reploier "to bend back, respond, answer, make a replication," in part continuing continental Old & Middle French repleier, reploier "to refold (something) unfolded," replié "something folded back" (from re- re- + plier "to fold, bend"), in part going back to Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") ply:3, replicate:1

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Replying

What does "Replying" mean?

"Replying" means to respond in words or writing. As a verb, it is defined as: to respond in words or writing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Replying"?

Other words for "Replying" include reacting, responding, answering, coming back, rejoining, retorting, returning and riposting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Replying" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Replying"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Replying". Common alternatives include reacting, responding, answering, coming back, rejoining, retorting, returning and riposting.

What is the opposite of "Replying"?

Antonyms of "Replying" include asking, inquiring and questioning. Near antonyms include acting, behaving, affecting and causing.

How do you use "Replying" in a sentence?

Examples of "Replying" in a sentence: "replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering"; "please reply to my question at your earliest convenience".

Is "Replying" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Replying" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Replying"?

"Replying" is pronounced /ri-ˈplī/ and divided into syllables as re·ply.

What is the origin of the word "Replying"?

"Replying" comes from Middle English replien "to fold back, oppose, repeat, respond verbally, deny, answer a legal charge," borrowed from Anglo-French replier, reploier "to bend back, respond, answer, make a replication," in part continuing continental Old & Middle French repleier, reploier "to refold (something) unfolded," replié "something folded back" (from re- re- + plier "to fold, bend"), in part going back to Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") ply:3, replicate:1. First known use: 14th centuryi.