# reciprocate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈsɪpɹəˌkeɪt/ · frequency rank #38,126

## Definitions
1. To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
2. To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.
3. To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
4. To counter, retort or retaliate.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **reciprocity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reciprocate-vs-reciprocity)
- **reciprocal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reciprocal-vs-reciprocate)

## Common misspellings (16)
`erciprocate`, `rceiprocate`, `recciprocate`, `reciporcate`, `recipprocate`, `reciprcoate`, `reciproacte`, `reciprocaet`, `reciprocatte`, `reciproccate`, `reciproctae`, `reciprrocate`, `recirpocate`, `recpirocate`, `reicprocate`, `rreciprocate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reciprocate