resort

[ ri-zawrt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to have recourse for use, help, or accomplishing something, often as a final available option or resource:

   to resort to war.

2. to go, especially frequently or customarily:

   a beach to which many people resort.

noun

1. a place to which people frequently or generally go for relaxation or pleasure, especially one providing rest and recreation facilities for vacationers:

   a popular winter resort.

2. habitual or general going, as to a place or person.
3. use of or appeal to some person or thing for aid, satisfaction, service, etc.; resource:

   to have resort to force;

   a court of last resort.

4. a person or thing resorted to for aid, satisfaction, service, etc.

resort

/ rɪˈzɔːt /

verb

1. usually foll by to to have recourse (to) for help, use, etc

   to resort to violence

2. to go, esp often or habitually; repair

   to resort to the beach

noun

1. a place to which many people go for recreation, rest, etc

   a holiday resort

2. the use of something as a means, help, or recourse
3. the act of going to a place, esp for recreation, rest, etc
4. last resort
   the last possible course of action open to one

Derived Forms

• reˈsorter, noun

Other Words From

• prere·sort verb (used without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of resort¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (for the verb) Middle English resorten, from Old French resortir, from re- re- + sortir “to go out, leave, escape” (perhaps ultimately from Latin sortīrī “to draw lots”); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of resort¹

C14: from Old French resortir to come out again, from re- + sortir to emerge

Idioms and Phrases

see last resort .

Example Sentences

The high cost of baby formula is forcing many parents to "resort to extreme and unsafe measures to feed their babies", an MP has told the Commons.

From BBC

"Closing school is always last resort, but in this instance, it is the only option", it said.

From BBC

Amid explosions and darkened skies, the crew at Mountain High ski resort jumped into action, firing up a hundred snow cannons to douse the flames with water.

From Los Angeles Times

Dame Rachel de Souza said she was “deeply concerned” by the figures, adding that home education was a last resort for children whose needs were not met by schools.

From BBC

Trump and some other legal minds in his orbit have suggested Trump should go after those prosecutors who have targeted him and his companies — including Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has pursued criminal cases against Trump for his incitement of the Jan. 6 insurrection and his hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort; and Letitia “Tish” James, the New York attorney general who won a massive fraud judgment against Trump for inflating his net worth to win preferable insurance and loan terms.

From Los Angeles Times