# retaliate

/ɹiˈtæɫiˌeɪt/ (US) · /ɹɪtˈælɪˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retaliate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to fight back

verb · CEFR B2

to hurt someone or do something negative to them because they attacked or offended you first.

For teachers: to return like for like, especially to inflict a counter-injury as a form of revenge or defensive response.

- The army warned that it would retaliate if the border was crossed again.
- The corporation threatened to retaliate against the smaller firm by launching a series of aggressive lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions.

Usage: Usually used as an intransitive verb followed by the preposition 'against' or 'by'.

### 2. to respond in kind

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to respond to an action by doing the same thing back to the other person.

For teachers: to repay or requite an action with one of the same kind; often used in diplomatic or formal contexts.

- When the country raised taxes on imports, its neighbour decided to retaliate with similar measures.
- Diplomatic protocols often dictate that a government will retaliate in kind when its officials are expelled from a foreign capital.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'retaliate in kind'.

## Examples

- The army decided to retaliate after the border attack.
- If the company lowers its prices again, the competitors will likely retaliate by launching a massive advertising campaign.
- Diplomatic experts warned that if the government imposed new trade sanctions, the neighboring country would almost certainly retaliate by closing its primary shipping ports to international vessels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.