Word
reciprocate
Phoneticsre·cip·ro·cate, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/
UK/ɹɪsˈɪpɹəkˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to return a feeling or action
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to do or feel the same thing for someone that they did for you.
v. to respond to a gesture, action, or emotion by making a corresponding one. Often used transitively with objects like 'feelings' or 'affection'.
“I gave her a small gift, and she reciprocated by inviting me to dinner.”
“Although he expressed his admiration openly, she found herself unable to reciprocate his feelings, leading to an awkward silence between them.”
Usage
Often used with 'by' followed by a gerund to show the specific action returned.
02mechanical back-and-forth
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
v. to move backwards and forwards in a straight line.
v. to move backwards and forwards alternately. This sense is typically intransitive and used in engineering contexts.
“The pistons in the engine reciprocate to turn the wheels.”
“The machine's design relies on a heavy arm that reciprocates at high speeds to punch holes in the metal sheets.”
Usage
Usually functions as an intransitive verb in this context.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, had said early on Tuesday that Tehran would reciprocate immediately if Washington honoured its commitments under a June memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was intended to halt the conflict.” “We impose our hopes and desires on others, hopes and desires of which they are often unaware, or care not to reciprocate, or cannot reciprocate in the way we would wish.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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