Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

reply

/ɹɪˈplaɪ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.50 in modern English

Syllables
re-ply
IPA
/ɹɪˈplaɪ/
10
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.

Intransitive verb; Transitive verb

verb

To act or gesture in response.

Intransitive verb

verb

To repeat something back; to echo.

Intransitive verb

noun

A written or spoken response; part of a conversation.

noun

Something given in reply.

noun

A counterattack.

noun

The answer of a figure.

noun

A document written by a party specifically replying to a responsive declaration and in some cases an answer.

American usage

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English replyen, replien, borrowed from Old French replier (“to reply”), from the Latin replicō, replicāre (“to fold back”) (in Late or Medieval Latin "to reply, repeat"), from re + plicō (“to fold”); the noun derives from the verb by nominalisation. Doublet of replicate and replica.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

replies (present, singular) replying (participle, present) replied (participle, past) replied (past) replies (plural)

Derived Forms

autoreply counterreply misreply nonreplying replyer replyingly unrepliable unreplied unreplying nonreply replyallpocalypse

Phrases

auto-reply business reply international reply coupon refer someone to the reply given in Arkell v Pressdram reply all storm reply device reply girl reply guy

Frequently Paired Words

respond

Synonyms

respond answer retort answer back react rejoin counter return revert follow up get back to comeback

Rhymes With

by my why high try guy buy july drive-by die eye hi

Questions

How do you pronounce reply?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈplaɪ/.
What does reply mean?
To give a written or spoken response, especially to a question, request, accusation or criticism; to answer.
Where does reply come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce reply

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “reply”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹɪˈplaɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “reply”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “reply” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.