reciprocate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to give, feel, etc., in return.
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to give and receive reciprocally; interchange.
to reciprocate favors.
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to cause to move alternately backward and forward.
verb (used without object)
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to make a return, as for something given.
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to make interchange.
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to be correspondent.
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to move alternately backward and forward.
verb
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to give or feel in return
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to move or cause to move backwards and forwards
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(intr) to be correspondent or equivalent
Usage
What does reciprocate mean? To reciprocate is to do something in response to an action in a way that corresponds or is somehow equivalent to that action.This is often positive. For example, when you are shown affection by a loved one, you can reciprocate by showing affection back. When someone does you a favor, you can reciprocate by doing something nice for them. However, reciprocating can also be negative. For example, if someone insults you, you may reciprocate by insulting them back or doing something else to get back at them.A much more informal way of saying reciprocate is the verb phrase return the favor. A noun form of reciprocate is reciprocation, which refers to the act of reciprocating or a specific instance of it, as in This gift is reciprocation for all your support. Actions or relationships involving reciprocation can be described as reciprocal. The related word reciprocity often refers to a reciprocal state or relation, or to the mutual exchange of things.More specifically, reciprocate can mean to give and receive things back and forth, or to interchange things. More generally, it can mean to move or cause to move alternately forward and backward, but this sense of the word is less common.Example: My neighbors helped me with my garden, so I reciprocated by making them dinner.
Other Word Forms
- nonreciprocating adjective
- reciprocation noun
- reciprocative adjective
- reciprocator noun
- reciprocatory adjective
- unreciprocating adjective
Etymology
Origin of reciprocate
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin reciprocātus, past participle of reciprocāre “to move back and forth”; -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I tried to reciprocate, which would have been easy under normal circumstances.
Leftist former president Evo Morales expelled Washington's top diplomat in Bolivia after accusing him of supporting a right-wing conspiracy, and the US reciprocated the gesture.
From Barron's
Caterpillar, mainly known for construction equipment, is seeing a spurt in demand from data centers for its turbines and reciprocating engines.
With respect @JDVance, if your wife encouraged you to re-engage with your faith, why not reciprocate that and engage with Hinduism too?
From Salon
For some Gen Zers, sweeping layoffs at companies in recent weeks have reinforced the belief that loyalty to an employer won’t be reciprocated.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
