Answer vs. Response — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
Answer implies a reply to a question that is expected to be accurate or informative, whereas response can be a reaction to any statement or situation, not limited to direct inquiries.
Difference Between Answer and Response
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An answer is typically expected to address a question directly, aiming to provide specific information or clarify a particular point. Whereas a response might not strictly answer a question but can express a broader reaction to any form of communication or event. This means that while all answers can be responses, not all responses qualify as answers.
Answers are often structured to resolve or provide clarity on a queried issue, emphasizing accuracy and relevance to the question posed. On the other hand, responses can be more varied, including emotional, behavioral, or verbal reactions, which may not necessarily solve a problem or address a specific question.
In educational or formal settings, providing an answer usually involves a correct or expected piece of information following a question. Responses in such contexts might be more about discussing or elaborating on a topic, showing understanding or engagement rather than correcting.
In conversation, when someone provides an answer, it often concludes the inquiry, aiming to satisfy the curiosity or informational needs of the asker. Conversely, a response can lead to further dialogue, potentially opening up new topics or deeper exploration of the original subject.
Technical fields or customer service scenarios stress the importance of answers as they require precision and often have less room for subjective interpretations. In contrast, artistic or therapeutic environments might value responses more, as they reflect personal impressions or feelings, promoting further interaction and exploration.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A reply to a specific question
A reaction to any statement or situation
Purpose
To provide information or clarification
To express a reaction or interaction
Context Dependency
High, depends on the question asked
Low, can be general or specific
Emphasis
On accuracy and relevance
On emotional, behavioral, or verbal expression
Outcome
Often conclusive
May lead to further interaction
Compare with Definitions
Answer
An accurate response in a test.
His answer was marked incorrect due to a technicality.
Response
An expressive reaction to an event.
The response to the performance included both cheers and tears.
Answer
A key to understanding a challenge.
The seminar provided answers to many of our software issues.
Response
An outcome of a particular action.
The audience's response to the movie was overwhelmingly positive.
Answer
A reply that resolves a question.
She quickly gave the correct answer in the quiz.
Response
A reply to any form of communication.
She drafted a detailed response to the email.
Answer
A resolution to a query.
The customer service provided a satisfactory answer.
Response
A return message in communication.
We are awaiting the professor's response on the matter.
Answer
A thing that is said, written, or done as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation
He knocked and entered without waiting for an answer
I hurried along the passage in answer to the doorbell's ring
Response
A reaction to an external stimulus.
His response to the news was unexpectedly calm.
Answer
A solution to a problem or dilemma
The answer to poverty and unemployment is a properly funded range of services
Response
A verbal or written answer
There was laughter at his response to the question
We received 400 applications in response to one job ad
Answer
A person or thing regarded as the equivalent to a better-known one from another place
The press called her Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe
Response
A reaction to something
An extended, jazzy piano solo drew the biggest response from the crowd
An Honours degree course in Japanese has been established in response to an increasing demand
Answer
Say or write something as a reaction to someone or something
‘Of course I can,’ she answered
Steve was about to answer, but Hazel spoke first
She tried to answer his questions truthfully
She answered that she would take nothing but the ring
Response
The act of responding.
Answer
Act in reaction to (a sound such as a telephone ringing or a knock or ring on a door)
She rang Edward's house, hoping the housekeeper would answer
Digby answered the door
Response
A reply or an answer.
Answer
Be responsible or report to (someone)
I answer to the Assistant Commissioner of Specialist Operations
Response
A reaction, as that of an organism or a mechanism, to a specific stimulus
A microphone's response to certain frequencies.
Response by the immune system to a pathogen.
Answer
Defend oneself against (a charge, accusation, or criticism)
He said he would return to Spain to answer all charges
Response
(Ecclesiastical) Something that is spoken or sung by a congregation or choir in answer to the officiating minister or priest.
Answer
Be suitable for fulfilling (a need); satisfy
Entrepreneurship is necessary to answer the needs of national and international markets
Response
A responsory.
Answer
A series of words spoken, written, or signed in reaction to a question, request, or other prompt; a reply
I wrote weeks ago but never got an answer.
Response
An answer or reply, or something in the nature of an answer or reply.
Answer
An act that serves as a reply or response
Our only possible answer was to sue. Their answer was to ignore me.
Response
The act of responding or replying; reply: as, to speak in response to a question.
Answer
A solution or result, as to a problem
We all got the right answer to that problem.
Response
An oracular answer.
Answer
The correct solution or response
The teacher read the answers to the quiz aloud.
Response
(liturgics) A verse, sentence, phrase, or word said or sung by the choir or congregation in sequence or reply to the priest or officiant.
Answer
Something markedly similar to another of the same class
Cable TV's answer to the broadcast networks' sportscasts.
Response
(liturgics) A versicle or anthem said or sung during or after a lection; a respond or responsory.
Answer
(Law) A defendant's response to the allegations that have been made against them.
Response
A reply to an objection in formal disputation.
Answer
To speak, write, or sign as a reaction to a question or other prompt
He couldn't take the call but answered with a text message.
Response
An online advertising performance metric representing one click-through from an online ad to its destination URL.
Answer
To act in reaction or as a response
Their team scored, but our team answered with a quick goal.
Response
A reaction to a stimulus or provocation.
Answer
To be liable or accountable
You must answer for your actions to your supervisor.
Response
The act of responding.
Answer
To serve the purpose; suffice
“Often I do use three words where one would answer” (Mark Twain).
Response
An answer or reply.
Answer
To match; correspond
I found a dog answering to that description.
Response
A result;
This situation developed in response to events in Africa
Answer
To produce an answer to
She answered the email.
Response
A bodily process occurring due to the effect of some foregoing stimulus or agent;
A bad reaction to the medicine
His responses have slowed with age
Answer
To state in reply
He answered that he was unable to join us.
Response
A statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation;
I waited several days for his answer
He wrote replies to several of his critics
Answer
To respond correctly to
I can't answer the question.
Response
The manner in which something is greeted;
She did not expect the cold reception she received from her superiors
Answer
To act in response to
The police answered the call for help. The soldiers answered the attack.
Response
A phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister
Answer
To argue in defense of oneself against (an accusation or charge).
Response
The speech act of continuing a conversational exchange;
He growled his reply
Answer
To be sufficient for (a need, for instance); fulfill
“My fortune has answered my desires” (Izaak Walton).
Answer
To match or correspond to
The suspect answers the description given by the police.
Answer
A response or reply; something said or done in reaction to a statement or question.
Her answer to his proposal was a slap in the face.
Answer
A solution to a problem.
There is no simple answer to corruption.
Answer
(legal) A document filed in response to a complaint, responding to each point raised in the complaint and raising counterpoints.
Answer
(ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to.
He answered the question.
Answer
(transitive) To speak in defence against; to reply to in defence.
To answer a charge or accusation
Answer
(ambitransitive) To respond to a call by someone at a door or telephone, or other similar piece of equipment.
She answered the door.
Nobody answered when I knocked on the door.
Answer
(ambitransitive) To suit a need or purpose satisfactorily.
It answers the need.
Answer
To be accountable or responsible; to make amends.
The man must answer to his employer for the money entrusted to his care.
He has a lot to answer for.
Answer
(legal) To file a document in response to a complaint.
Answer
To correspond to; to be in harmony with; to be in agreement with.
Answer
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
Answer
To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation, correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond; to suit; usually with to.
Answer
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification; to refute.
Answer
To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction of, as an order, obligation, or demand.
He answered my claim upon him.
The servant answered the bell.
Answer
(obsolete) To render account to or for.
Answer
(obsolete) To atone for; to be punished for.
Answer
(obsolete) To be or act as an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
Answer
To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer a charge; to answer an accusation.
Answer
To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to.
She answers him as if she knew his mind.
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus answered soon his bold compeer.
Answer
To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
No man was able to answer him a word.
These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant.
The reasoning was not and could not be answered.
Answer
To be or act in return or response to.
This proud king . . . studies day and nightTo answer all the debts he owes unto you.
Answer
To render account to or for.
I will . . . send him to answer thee.
Answer
To atone; to be punished for.
And grievously hath Cæzar answered it.
Answer
To be opposite to; to face.
The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing horizon them.
Answer
To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for; to serve for; to repay.
Money answereth all things.
Answer
To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person.
Answer
To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or in reply; to make response.
There was no voice, nor any that answered.
Answer
To make a satisfactory response or return.
Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law.
Answer
To be or act in return.
Do the strings answer to thy noble hand?
Answer
To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience.
If this but answer to my just belief,I 'll remember you.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
Answer
A reply to a charge; a defense.
At my first answer no man stood with me.
Answer
Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
Answer
Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something else; a responsive action.
Great the slaughter isHere made by the Roman; great the answer beBritons must take.
Answer
A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer to a problem.
Answer
A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill.
Answer
A statement (either spoken or written) that is made in reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation;
I waited several days for his answer
He wrote replies to several of his critics
Answer
A statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem;
They were trying to find a peaceful solution
The answers were in the back of the book
He computed the result to four decimal places
Answer
The speech act of replying to a question
Answer
The principle pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
Answer
A nonverbal reaction;
His answer to any problem was to get drunk
Their answer was to sue me
Answer
Reply or respond to;
She didn't want to answer
Answer the question
We answered that we would accept the invitation
Answer
Give the correct answer or solution to;
Answer a question
Answer the riddle
Answer
Respond to a signal;
Answer the door
Answer the telephone
Answer
Understand the meaning of;
The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered
Answer
Give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument);
The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution
Answer
Be liable or accountable;
She must answer for her actions
Answer
Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity;
A few words would answer
This car suits my purpose well
Will $100 do?
A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school
Nothing else will serve
Answer
Match or correspond;
The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave
Answer
Be satisfactory for; meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of;
This may answer her needs
Common Curiosities
What is an example of a response that is not an answer?
An emotional expression or opinion in reaction to a statement or event.
What defines an answer?
An answer specifically addresses and resolves a question.
Can responses be predictive or anticipatory?
Yes, responses can anticipate future interactions or reactions.
Do answers require a direct question to be posed?
Yes, answers are typically provided in response to a direct question.
How does a response differ from an answer?
A response can be a general reaction not necessarily aimed at resolving a question.
Can a response be an answer?
Yes, if it specifically addresses a question posed.
Are answers limited to verbal communication?
No, answers can be conveyed through various forms, including written and non-verbal cues.
What role does culture play in defining what is considered an appropriate response?
Cultural norms heavily influence what is considered a respectful or appropriate response.
Is an answer always correct?
An answer is expected to be correct within the context it is given, though this is not absolute.
Why might someone prefer a response over a direct answer?
A response allows for more nuanced and expressive communication.
How do professionals ensure their responses are appropriate?
By aligning their responses with the context, audience expectations, and situational demands.
Can answers be changed or updated?
Yes, especially as new information becomes available or contexts change.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
