Dictionary

reciprocate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Latin recīprocātus, perfect passive participle of recīprocō (“to move back and forth”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from reciprocus (“back an forth, reciprocal, alternating”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), itself possibly from a phrase such as reque proque (“back and forth”), from re- (“back”), prō (“forwards”) and -que (“and”). See also reciprocal. Compare French réciproquer.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
   • The USTR isn't reciprocating actual tariffs. It's just placing the biggest tariffs on the countries running the biggest trade surpluses. 2025 April 3, Felix Salmon, “How to read the White House's tariff formula”, in Axios:
2. To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.
   • I gave them apples from my tree; they reciprocated with a pie and some apple jelly.
   • Nugget appreciates the generosity! Nugget will reciprocate with a Monstermon card! 2019, Con Man Games, SmashGames, quoting Nugget, Kindergarten 2, SmashGames:
   • I simply couldn't accept such a gift without reciprocating.
3. (intransitive) To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
   • One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, / And draws and blows reciprocating air. 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
   • a reciprocating engine
4. (intransitive) To counter, retort or retaliate.

Forms

Deriveds

reciprocating · unreciprocated · unreciprocate · reciprocation · reciprocatable · reciprocator

Hyponyms

counterchange · counter · exchange · interchange · retaliate

Relateds

reciprocatory · reciprocitarian · reciprocity · reciprocality · reciprocal

Synonyms

reciprocate · respond in kind · give as good as one gets

Translations (49)

ar تَبَادَلَ (to give something in response) · fi antaa vastalahja (to give something in response) · cmn 往復 /往复 (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · nl beantwoorden (to give something in response) · fi vastata (to give something in response) · es recompensar (to give something in response) · bg разменям (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · cmn 報答 /报答 (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · cmn 報答 /报答 (to give something in response) · ru обмениваться (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · it reciprocare (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · pt reciprocar (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · mi kōkeke (to move backwards and forwards, like a piston) · fi liikkua edestakaisin (to move backwards and forwards, like a piston) · cmn 回報 /回报 (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · hu ide-oda/előre-hátra mozog/jár/leng (to move backwards and forwards, like a piston) · ja 交換する (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · es reciprocar (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · de erwidern (to counter, retort or retaliate) · ru возместить (to give something in response) · ja 返す (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · pt devolver (to counter, retort or retaliate) · fi kiertää (to move backwards and forwards, like a piston) · fi vastata (to counter, retort or retaliate) · cs oplácet (to give something in response) · ru воздать (to give something in response) · ar بَادَلَ (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · cs opětovat (to give something in response) · sv återgälda (to give something in response) · cs oplatit (to give something in response) · ar رَدَّ (to give something in response) · pt alternar (to move backwards and forwards, like a piston) · ru возвращаться (to give something in response) · pt trocar (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · bg отвръщам (to counter, retort or retaliate) · bg отплащам се (to give something in response) · fi vaihtaa (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · ru воздавать (to give something in response) · de erwidern (to give something in response) · fr donner en retour (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · hu viszonoz (to give something in response) · fr rendre la pareille (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · fr réciproquer (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · gl corresponder (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · ru возмещать (to give something in response) · es corresponder (to mutually give and take something; to interchange) · ru вернуться (to give something in response) · pt retribuir (to give something in response) · ru отвеча́ть (to mutually give and take something; to interchange)