What does reciprocate mean?
Word: Reciprocate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Reciprocate means to give or do something in return for what someone has given or done for you.
Synonyms: return
How do you spell reciprocate?
Syllables: re - cip - ro - cate
Tricky part: The word holds two c's that sound quite different: the first is soft, like an s, and the second is hard, like a k. Pupils who spell by ear swap one or the other.
Watch out for: resiprocate, reciprokate
Memory tip: One letter, two voices: the first c hisses, the second c clicks, just as two friends take turns to give.
Reciprocate in a sentence
Example 1: I helped Kabir with fractions, and he reciprocated by teaching me to bowl.
Example 2: If you smile at a baby, the baby will often reciprocate.
Example 3: Our sister school lent us its stage for the play, so we reciprocated by lending it our science lab.
Fun Fact
A car's piston engine is known as a reciprocating engine, because its pistons keep moving up and down, each stroke answered by the next.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
When the visiting captain shook hands so warmly, our players were happy to reciprecate with three loud cheers at the end of the match.
a) captain
b) visiting
c) cheers
d) reciprecate
Show answer
d) reciprecate. The vowel after the pr is an o, as in progress.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
When a friend shares her notes with you, try to tpecriroeca by sharing yours next time.
a) recommend
b) reconcile
c) recapitulate
d) reciprocate
Show answer
d) reciprocate. Two c's and a p are there, but not l, m or n, which rules out the other three.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word reciprocate as used in the sentence:
Mrs Rao looked after our cat all week, and we want to reciprocate her kindness.
a) admire
b) doubt
c) question
d) repay
Show answer
d) repay. We may well admire her kindness, but the sentence is about doing something for her in turn.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. generocity 2. gratitute 3. acknowlege 4. reciprocate
a) to answer a kind act with one of your own
b) the habit of giving freely to others
c) the feeling of being thankful to someone
d) to accept openly that something is true
Show answer
a) to answer a kind act with one of your own. The three wrong forms each slip on one letter: gratitude ends in tude, generosity takes an s, and acknowledge needs a d.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which pair of classmates is reciprocating?
a) neither speaks to the other
b) each lends the other books
c) one always pays for snacks
d) both miss the school bus
Show answer
b) each lends the other books
2. You reciprocate a friend's invitation when you ____.
a) ask that friend over in turn
b) say you are too busy to go
c) pass it on to your cousin
d) forget the date of the party
Show answer
a) ask that friend over in turn
