auto-replying
|au-to-re-ply-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔːtoʊ rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəʊ rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/
(auto-reply)
automatic response
Etymology
'auto-replying' is formed from the prefix 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos', meaning 'self') combined with 'reply' (from Old French/Anglo-French roots ultimately related to Latin 'replicare' meaning 'to fold back, respond').
'auto-' (Greek 'autos' meaning 'self') was attached to the verb 'reply' in English to create the compound 'auto-reply' as electronic messaging and automated systems developed in the 20th century; the gerund/present-participle form 'auto-replying' follows regular English verb morphology.
Originally 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'reply' meant 'answer'; combined they literally meant 'self-answer.' Over time, with the rise of electronic communication, the compound evolved to mean 'an automatically sent answer' or the action of sending such answers.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of sending automatic replies (gerund use).
Auto-replying can save time for customer support teams.
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Verb 1
present participle / gerund form of 'auto-reply' — performing the action of sending an automatic reply.
She's auto-replying to messages while she's away from the office.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 23:01