"answering" in the verb sense
1. answer, reply, respond
react verbally
"She didn't want to answer"
"answer the question"
"We answered that we would accept the invitation"
2. answer
respond to a signal
"answer the door"
"answer the telephone"
3. answer
give the correct answer or solution to
"answer a question"
"answer the riddle"
4. answer, resolve
understand the meaning of
"The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered"
5. answer
give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument
"The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution"
6. answer
be liable or accountable
"She must answer for her actions"
7. suffice, do, answer, serve
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"
8. answer
match or correspond
"The drawing of the suspect answers to the description the victim gave"
9. answer
be satisfactory for meet the requirements of or serve the purpose of
"This may answer her needs"
10. answer
react to a stimulus or command
"The steering of my new car answers to the slightest touch"
"answering" in the adjective sense
1. answering, respondent
replying
"an answering glance"
"an answering smile"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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