answer back

phrasal 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 Toledo answered back with a goal as the teams started the third period deadlocked at two goals apiece. Zach Welch, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2024 Yet, the Mustangs answered back with two goals of their own to push the lead to three. Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2024 Of those, an even dozen times the opponent answered back could be considered crucial — with their opponent tying the game, taking the lead or otherwise negating a Padres comeback. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024 Advertisement In their past 16 games, an inning like Tuesday’s eighth — in which the opponent has answered back right away — has occurred 16 times among the 35 half-innings in which the Padres have scored. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024 Kucherov answered back with three the next evening. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2024 The manager didn’t answer back for two, three months. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 19 Feb. 2024 This time the Sun Devils trailed by 15 at the break and could not answer back, falling to the suddenly surging Oregon State Beavers 84-71 in Pac-12 play Saturday night. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2024 The Warriors answered back with a 48-point third quarter, their highest-scoring quarter of the season. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'answer back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

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