The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a terminal for answering a call and relates to the field of terminal technologies. The method includes, after a call is received from a calling party, answering the call by using an automatic call answering function of a terminal, and talking with the calling party. If an instruction is received from an owner in the process of talking with the calling party, an operation is performed according to the instruction of the owner. If no instruction is received from an owner in the process of talking with the calling party, an emergency level of the call according to call content is determined, and an operation is performed according to the determined emergency level.