How to Use reciprocate in a Sentence

reciprocate

verb
  • They appreciated her kindness but were not ready to reciprocate the gesture.
  • This was reciprocated by all who were blessed to be in her life.
    — courant.com, 20 July 2019
  • Tell everyone about your big dream and plant all the seeds but make sure to reciprocate the help.
    — NBC News, 11 Aug. 2020
  • But no one ever seems to reciprocate, and this bothers me.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
  • If attached, you are adored by your partner and must reciprocate.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2020
  • Caught off guard in the moment, Heringer did not reciprocate.
    — Erin Clack, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
  • Beilein reciprocated that interest and went through the process with an open mind.
    — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, 7 June 2018
  • The sheer wonder on all the angel faces was reciprocated in its own way on Witt.
    — Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
  • But if the signs are all there that that’s not going to be reciprocated, save the time, save the effort, save the tears.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Hawkeyes fans often reciprocated with a full moon in broad daylight.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Trust that your money is in safe hands and that your affection is reciprocated.
    — oregonlive, 29 Feb. 2020
  • Of course, that sentiment is shared and fans were quick to reciprocate their gratitude and love.
    — Rebecca Norris, Country Living, 23 Sep. 2021
  • The Arabs’ princes and kings have reciprocated.
    — Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
  • But the grace Williams has shown hasn’t always been reciprocated.
    — Taryn Finley, Refinery29, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But what happens when the other party does not reciprocate?
    — Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The saw, on the other hand, sporting a Bosch reciprocating wood blade, is a beast.
    — Michael R. Shea, Field & Stream, 19 Dec. 2019
  • But obviously as things go on, one person is not going to be able to reciprocate the love.
    — Belinda Luscombe, Time, 11 Dec. 2017
  • And studies have found that much of our gift giving is rooted in the obligation to reciprocate.
    — Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2021
  • The Ricketts family spent enough to win but the team didn’t reciprocate.
    — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, 18 Aug. 2021
  • This is also reciprocated by a few other friends.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • And the Brewers reciprocated by giving him a full no-trade clause throughout for the next nine years.
    — Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2020
  • The human tendency is to reciprocate in favor of those who have shown kindness.
    — Boris Kontsevoi, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Iran was supposed to defend its proxies, to reciprocate for their many years of fighting for Iran.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Hose down hacksaw and reciprocating saw blades that cut metal after the job is done and before storing the blade.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 23 Mar. 2023
  • For her part, Bernstein is reciprocating by teaching Hunter and his dad how to play her sport of choice.
    — Erin Clements, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Girlish Marela tries but fails to get Juan Julian to reciprocate her crush.
    — Christine Dolen, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2023
  • In turn, Lexi reciprocates that trust and relies on her Amish mother-in-law for the same support.
    — Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The sentiment was reciprocated, on the ground as well as on Twitter.
    — Nr Editors, National Review, 7 Nov. 2019
  • Use that bigger salary to fund weekend sabbaticals to the city of your dreams — and reciprocate when your bride cooks up a girls’ weekend.
    — Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2024
  • His character is in love with Lindy, but it’s mostly not reciprocated.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reciprocate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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