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View synonyms for answering machine

answering machine

noun

  1. an electronic device that is attached to a telephone and that automatically answers callers with a prerecorded message and records their messages for later playback.


answering machine

noun

  1. a device by means of which a telephone call is answered automatically and the caller enabled to leave a recorded message In fulltelephone answering machine Also calledanswerphone
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of answering machine1

First recorded in 1975–80
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Example Sentences

I was visiting with Coach in his modest Encino condo when the phone rang and the answering machine picked up.

Mr. Hampton unsuccessfully sued Mr. Guare, Lincoln Center Theater and other parties for $100 million in damages for using incidents from his life in the play, and left death threats on Mr. Guare’s answering machine.

A telephone message left on an answering machine at Yetman’s home seeking comment was not immediately returned.

I kept the message on our answering machine for years.

"I hope you're doing OK in the heat," she had said into his answering machine that day.

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