did not answer

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not answer" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when someone has not responded to a question or a statement. For example, "He was asked his opinion on the matter, but he did not answer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He did not answer.

The New York Times - Sports

McCain did not answer.

The Washington Post

Johnson did not answer.

The Washington Post

Boehner did not answer.

The Guardian

Grossbart did not answer.

The New Yorker

Harman did not answer.

The Guardian

Dyson did not answer.

The Guardian - Business

Solly did not answer.

The New York Times - Style

Quanitta did not answer him.

The New York Times - Sports

The cardinal did not answer.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

*Did not answer the questions about abuse.

BMC Women's Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When needing a slightly more formal construction you may consider using phrases as "gave no response".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses with "did not answer". For example, "He not answer" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "He did not answer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not answer" functions as a simple declarative statement. It asserts the absence of a response from a subject to a question, request, or other form of communication. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not answer" is a grammatically sound and highly versatile expression used to indicate the absence of a response. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a common and correct phrase, and is encountered frequently in news, media, and scientific writing. While alternatives exist, "did not answer" provides a clear and neutral means of conveying that someone did not provide a response, with the specific implication varying based on the surrounding context. It's key to ensure the context is clear and tenses are used correctly to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not reply

A simple and direct alternative, indicating a lack of response.

offered no answer

Emphasizes the absence of an answer being provided, implying a question was posed.

gave no response

Focuses on the absence of any kind of reply, whether verbal or written.

remained silent

Indicates a complete lack of verbal response, emphasizing the silence that followed.

stayed quiet

Similar to 'remained silent', highlighting the lack of any verbal communication.

avoided the question

Suggests the person deliberately evaded providing a direct answer.

declined to comment

Suggests a deliberate refusal to provide information, often in a formal setting.

sidestepped the issue

Implies an attempt to avoid addressing a particular topic or question directly.

kept mum

An informal way of saying someone remained silent, often implying secrecy.

passed over the query

Highlights the question being ignored, not addressed, or not even considered.

FAQs

What does "did not answer" mean?

The phrase "did not answer" means that someone was presented with a question, request, or other form of communication, but they provided no response. It indicates a lack of reply or acknowledgement.

What are some alternatives to "did not answer"?

Alternatives to "did not answer" include "remained silent", "gave no response", "did not reply", or "declined to comment depending on the specific context".

Is it ever appropriate to use "did not answer" in formal writing?

Yes, "did not answer" is appropriate for formal writing. It's a clear and direct way to state that someone didn't provide a response. More formal alternatives like "offered no answer" or "declined to comment" may also be suitable.

How does "did not answer" differ from "ignored"?

"Did not answer" simply states that a response was not given. "Ignored" implies a deliberate decision to disregard the communication, which adds a layer of intentionality that "did not answer" lacks. For example, "He did not answer because he didn't hear the question" versus "He ignored the question because he didn't want to answer it."