reciprocate

[ ri-sip-ruh-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, re·cip·ro·cat·ed, re·cip·ro·cat·ing.

1. to give, feel, etc., in return.

   Synonyms: retaliate, respond, return

2. to give and receive reciprocally; interchange:

   to reciprocate favors.

3. to cause to move alternately backward and forward.

verb (used without object)

, re·cip·ro·cat·ed, re·cip·ro·cat·ing.

1. to make a return, as for something given.
2. to make interchange.
3. to be correspondent.
4. to move alternately backward and forward.

reciprocate

/ rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to give or feel in return
2. to move or cause to move backwards and forwards
3. intr to be correspondent or equivalent

Derived Forms

• reˌciproˈcation, noun
• reˈciprocative, adjective
• reˈciproˌcator, noun

Other Words From

• re·cip·ro·ca·tive re·cip·ro·ca·to·ry [ri-, sip, -r, uh, -k, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• re·cip·ro·ca·tor noun
• non·re·cip·ro·cat·ing adjective
• un·re·cip·ro·cat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reciprocate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin reciprocātus, past participle of reciprocāre “to move back and forth”; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of reciprocate¹

C17: from Latin reciprocāre , from reciprocus reciprocal

Example Sentences

My cousin reciprocated by mailing me a fairly expensive gift card to a restaurant where I rarely dine.

From Washington Post

Iowa State has not traditionally been a college football program that reciprocates heightened expectations with on-field success.

From FiveThirtyEight

Every chance she got, she would playfully swat at Luna with her front paws, and expect Luna to reciprocate.

From Fortune

There is a state compact where they will reciprocate and recognize parts of their license or education, but you still usually have to go through a process and it takes weeks even if they are part of that compact.

From Fortune

China quickly reciprocated by sanctioning 11 prominent Americans.

From Quartz

“She was always aloof, quiet, and never put out any effort to reciprocate,” Wall said.

From The Daily Beast

And world powers said they were ready to reciprocate, if Iran gave significant assurances.

From The Daily Beast

The Israelis reciprocate with unique intelligence assistance.

From The Daily Beast

They treat the Yemenis with contempt, and the Yemenis reciprocate.

From The Daily Beast

When we meet in debates, Karl is cordial—even genial—and I do my best to reciprocate.

From The Daily Beast

This dedication is very precious, as indicating your regard for me, and on my part I reciprocate your feeling.

From Project Gutenberg

I can assure you it would have been very pleasant and interesting, for I, too, warmly reciprocate your sympathy.

From Project Gutenberg

To-day we reciprocate by sending Western farmers with capital into the Canadian Northwest.

From Project Gutenberg

I must, however, allow that Mr. Henson is a courteous disputant, and I hope I shall reciprocate his good feeling.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence, there was always some truth in the charge of his friends that he failed to reciprocate their devotion with his favors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• repay
• retaliate

More About Reciprocate

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.

Where does reciprocate come from?

The first records of the word reciprocate come from the 1500s. It comes from the Latin verb reciprocāre, meaning “to move back and forth.”

This more literal sense of reciprocate is not all that common, but it is used in terms like reciprocating saw (a type of electric saw that moves back and forth) and reciprocating engine (in which the pistons move back and forth). Most senses of reciprocate deal with a different type of back-and-forth, typically one involving a relationship between two people or two groups. The word is most commonly associated with favors, kind gestures, and displays of emotion that are done in response to similar actions, as in I shared my feelings with her and she reciprocated. Sometimes, though, reciprocating is the same as retaliating, as in It is thought that the country may reciprocate after the missile strike.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to reciprocate? 

• reciprocation (noun)
• reciprocal (adjective)
• reciprocity (noun)
• reciprocative (adjective)
• reciprocatory (adjective)
• reciprocator (noun)
• nonreciprocating (adjective)
• unreciprocated (adjective)

What are some synonyms for reciprocate?

• interchange
• repay
• retaliate

What are some words that share a root or word element with reciprocate? 

• reciprocating engine

What are some words that often get used in discussing reciprocate?

• action
• return
• exchange
• compensate
• favor
• gift

How is reciprocate used in real life?

Reciprocate is a somewhat formal word. The act of reciprocating can be either positive or negative.

Be humble. You may be wrong.
Be kind. You may be remembered.

Be hard working. You may be luckier.
Be trustworthy. You may see further.

Be generous. Others may reciprocate.
Be curious. You may stay teachable.

Be forgiving. You may feel lighter.
Be yourself. You will be happier.

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) July 26, 2020

dont send me long text messages because that means i have to send a long text message back to reciprocate the energy and i do not want to do that

— Rich Brian (@richbrian) January 12, 2020

There are people who grew up with parents who didn’t show them love or affection. You can’t fault them for learning how to love you. They don’t know how to reciprocate that energy because they never received it. Take your time on them and show them how they should be loved

— Dyani✨ (@jaleecee) July 22, 2020

 

 

Try using reciprocate!

Which of the following actions is NOT a way to reciprocate?

A. responding to someone’s message
B. giving someone a gift after receiving one from them
C. ignoring someone who has tried to contact you
D. returning a favor