retaliate

CEFRB2

/ɹɪˈtæl.i.eɪt/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To hurt or punish someone in return for harm received.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To repay or requite by an act of the same kind.

Examples

  • How can you be so passive? Why don't you retaliate?

  • John insulted Peter to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
3
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront.

More examples

In context

  • Many companies have policies in place to prevent bosses from retaliating against allegations of harassment.

  • He wants to retaliate.

  • 1713-174, Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus Preface It is unlucky to be obliged to retaliate the injuries of authors, whose works are so soon forgotten that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

After the enemy attacked our camp, the soldiers planned to blank with a fierce counterattack.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Latin retāliātus, past participle of retāliō (“to requite, retaliate”).