To make a reply or response to.

"He answered the question."

To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.

"to answer a charge or accusation"

To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.

"Nobody answered when I knocked on the door."

To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.

"It answers the need."

To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.

"He has a lot to answer for."

To file a document in response to a complaint.

To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.

To be opposite, or to act in opposition.

To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.

To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.

To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.

"He answered my claim upon him."

To render account to or for.

To atone for; to be punished for.

To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.

The act of giving an answer.