resort
Americanverb (used without object)
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to have recourse for use, help, or accomplishing something, often as a final available option or resource.
to resort to war.
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to go, especially frequently or customarily.
a beach to which many people resort.
noun
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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.
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habitual or general going, as to a place or person.
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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.
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a person or thing resorted to for aid, satisfaction, service, etc.
verb
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(usually foll by to) to have recourse (to) for help, use, etc
to resort to violence
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to go, esp often or habitually; repair
to resort to the beach
noun
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a place to which many people go for recreation, rest, etc
a holiday resort
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the use of something as a means, help, or recourse
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the act of going to a place, esp for recreation, rest, etc
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the last possible course of action open to one
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resortsimple
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resortssimple
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have resortedperfect
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has resortedperfect
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am resortingprogressive
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are resortingprogressive
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is resortingprogressive
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have been resortingperfect progressive
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has been resortingperfect progressive
Past
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resortedsimple
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had resortedperfect
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was resortingprogressive
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were resortingprogressive
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had been resortingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resort
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
Explanation
The noun resort means "turning to something or someone else for assistance." You tried everything to figure out your math homework on your own, so asking your dad for help was your last resort. Resort, pronounced "re-ZORT," is also a verb that means "to adopt a course of action to improve your situation." It's when you use that last resort: if you can't convince your mom to let you go rock-climbing, you will resort to begging. Resort also means a fancy hotel, usually in a very scenic location, or a place you go often — when your friends didn't know where you were, they checked your resorts: the gym and the park.
Vocabulary lists containing resort
"Arachne"
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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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"A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long," Vocabulary from the poem
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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.
As a result, many resort to Medi-Cal, saddling the state with the healthcare costs instead of employers.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
"We will resort, if necessary, to resistance and peaceful civil disobedience," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
It then began offering yuan-denominated swap lines via its central bank to indebted countries, effectively making China a lender of last resort to poorer nations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
The popularity of the stretch means houses in the resort can sell for more than £1m, while further along the coast, a three-bed semi-detached property or two-bed detached bungalow can fetch £200,000 in Denbighshire.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
Indeed, the railroad stop was located right across Main Street from the resort.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
