Online OXFORD Collocation Dictionary

reply noun

ADJ. brief, monosyllabic | curt, sharp, tart | only ‘Billy, I think it's your turn to wash the dishes,’ said Jane. A non-committal grunt was his only reply. | simple Her reply was simple. ‘No,’ she said. | standard, usual ‘No comment’ is his standard reply to most questions. | straight She refused to give a straight reply, deciding rather to defer the question. | evasive, non-committal | unsatisfactory | proper, satisfactory | suitable | correct | positive | negative | early, immediate, prompt, quick | formal | personal | written

VERB + REPLY get, have, receive Have you had a reply to your letter yet? | give sb, make He made no reply, but simply walked away. | send (back), write I must write my letter in time for them to send back a reply. | elicit, produce The report elicited a formal reply from the minister. The questionnaire produced 9,000 replies. | await (written), wait for | expect

REPLY + VERB come (back) ‘No,’ came the reply. A reply came back almost by return of post. | be forthcoming They waited patiently for a reply but none seemed to be forthcoming.

REPLY + NOUN card, form, slip Please fill in the reply card and return it to us as soon as possible.

PREP. in ~ (to) What did they say in reply? I am writing in reply to your request for information on holidays in Italy. | ~ from a reply from the minister | ~ to my reply to your query

PHRASES a chance to reply She quickly left the room before he had a chance to reply. | a right of reply I am grateful to you for having given me a right of reply (= the opportunity to respond) to the article in your magazine about my company.

reply verb

ADV. merely, simply He simply replied that he hadn't the faintest idea. | directly She did not reply directly to the allegations. | personally Well, you weren't expecting the prime minister to reply personally, were you? | at once, immediately | hastily, hurriedly, promptly, quickly | slowly | at length ‘OK, ’ he replied at length. She replied at length, but not to the point. | briskly, briefly, curtly, shortly, tersely | abruptly, brusquely, sharply | bluntly, flatly ‘No, you're not, ’ Graham replied bluntly. | firmly | gently, politely, soothingly | lightly | seriously | quietly, softly | angrily, bitterly, crossly, indignantly, sourly | coldly, coolly, icily | cautiously, guardedly, hesitantly, nervously | calmly, equably, evenly, mildly | sternly, stiffly | brightly, cheerfully | bleakly, grimly | drily, sarcastically, sardonically, sweetly (ironic), tartly | absently, vaguely | evasively | honestly | in kind Charles was insulted and replied in kind (= by insulting them back).

VERB + REPLY not bother to She didn't even bother to reply.

PREP. to He did not reply to my letter. | with She replied with a smile.