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
The Yankees answered back with a first-inning solo homer from Aaron Judge, his eighth of the season and fifth in his last five games, and a two-run blast from Giancarlo Stanton, his second of the year, in the third frame. —
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 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 Story’s second-inning error added another run to Cincinnati’s lead, but the veteran shortstop answered back in the following inning, with the first Red Sox home run of the year. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 The Cornhuskers then answered back with a 6-0 run to retake the lead, but Vanderbilt led 72-70 with less than a minute to go after a Tanner layup, which gave him 27 points on the night. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for answer back
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.
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 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 Story’s second-inning error added another run to Cincinnati’s lead, but the veteran shortstop answered back in the following inning, with the first Red Sox home run of the year. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 The Cornhuskers then answered back with a 6-0 run to retake the lead, but Vanderbilt led 72-70 with less than a minute to go after a Tanner layup, which gave him 27 points on the night. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for answer back
Cite this Entry
“Answer back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/answer%20back. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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