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Definition
to give in return — such as invitations, gifts, actions, or feelingsMuch more rarely, reciprocate can refer to alternating the direction of something as in a reciprocating saw.
- We always invite the neighbors and they never reciprocate!
- She was also in full-on flirt mode with Michael, who seemed more than happy to reciprocate.Sarah Dessen -- Just Listen
- He was the one person Garrett shared a real understanding with, a feeling reciprocated by the old man.Nicholas Sparks -- Message in a Bottle
- "Or maybe you want to point out everyone else's imperfections so you stay the Queen of Perfect."
That's not fair. I don't want to point out her flaws, but if I see her going on a self-destructive path, isn't it up to me as her friend to stop her? Maybe not. ... The only one I let close enough is Sierra. How dare I give Darlene advice when she can't reciprocate?Simone Elkeles -- Perfect Chemistry - Tell me that she does not reciprocate your love.Burroughs, Edgar Rice -- The Monster Men
- And she reciprocates my sentiments.Collins, Wilkie -- I Say No
- Twemlow ought to know the dear friend Podsnap who covered him with so much confusion, and he says he does know him, and Podsnap reciprocates.Dickens, Charles -- Our Mutual Friend
- the engine reciprocates the propeller
- He knew that she had intended this move as invitation, but he had not reciprocated.Dave Eggers -- A Hologram for the King
- I feel her body soften just slightly against mine, but she doesn't move her arms or reciprocate.Katja Millay -- The Sea of Tranquility
- In what manners did she reciprocate?James Joyce -- Ulysses
- It's not just the recollection of what Rob said and how Cedric failed to reciprocate that eats at him.Ron Suskind -- A Hope in the Unseen
- He was extremely cordial and reciprocated these sentiments.Nelson Mandela -- Long Walk to Freedom
- And affection, when reciprocated, gives rights.E.M. Forster -- Howards End
- For a long time, for long months, Siddhartha waited for his son to understand him, to accept his love, to perhaps reciprocate it.Hermann Hesse -- Siddhartha
- Jared had told her about a new level of reciprocation encouraged among the CE staff.Dave Eggers -- The Circle
- MOS: 'tis true, By my device, drawn to it by my plot, With hope— VOLT: Your patron should reciprocate?Ben Jonson -- Volpone
- I tried to reciprocate, even though I suddenly felt uneasy, remembering that night I'd seen him in this same place with Roscoe.Sarah Dessen -- Lock and Key
- Yet she was a woman of the people, a worker: otherwise—let me reciprocate your bluntness—I should have scorned her.George Bernard Shaw -- Man And Superman
- In the driveway there are hugs and kisses good-bye, initiated by Maxine, his parents reciprocating clumsily.Jhumpa Lahiri -- The Namesake
reciprocate = give in return
reciprocated = returned
reciprocate = give in return