reciprocate
verb/ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/
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.
1
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.
- I simply couldn't accept such a gift without reciprocating.
1 more example
- Nugget appreciates the generosity! Nugget will reciprocate with a Monstermon card!2019, Con Man Games, SmashGames, quoting Nugget, Kindergarten 2, SmashGames:
3
To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
- a reciprocating engine
- 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:
4
To counter, retort or retaliate.
- Synonyms
- give as good as one gets, reciprocate, respond in kind
- Derived terms
- reciprocatable, reciprocating, reciprocation, reciprocator, unreciprocate, unreciprocated
- Related terms
- reciprocal, reciprocality, reciprocatory, reciprocitarian, reciprocity
- Hyponyms
- counter, counterchange, exchange, interchange, retaliate