answer back

verb

answered back; answering back; answers back
somewhat informal
: to reply to someone especially in a rude way
impolite children who answer back when their teacher corrects them

Examples of answer back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The problem is Atlanta kept answering back. — Miami Herald, 22 May 2026 The Hawks answered back on the ensuing possession. — Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2026 Sunday was the second game in a row the Padres answered back in the next half inning both times the Red Sox scored. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 The plan is to send a group of scientists to figure out why Tau Ceti has remained immune to the astrophage and hopefully send the answer back in time to save the world. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for answer back

Rhymes for answer back

See All Rhymes for answer back

Browse Nearby Words

answerable
answer back
answerer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on answer back

Nglish: Translation of answer back for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All