Some comedians were giving a reply (6)
I believe the answer is:
answer
'a reply' is the definition.
('answer' can be a synonym of 'reply')
'some comedians were giving' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (some parts of the word are used).
'ANSWER' is hidden in the letters of 'comedians were giving'.
(Other definitions for answer that I've seen before include "Reply or 8 across" , "Response - solution" , "'A soft . . . . . . turneth away wrath'" , "Retort" , "See 9" .)