reciprocated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reciprocated" is correct and usuable in written English.
You can use the word when you want to describe an action that is given or done in return, such as a feeling or behavior. For example, you could say: "The couple's love for each other was reciprocated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Like much of animal altruism, this is actually a long-term insurance policy, a favour which is expected to be reciprocated when the time comes.

The Guardian

It's a love that is reciprocated: the Italians adore London, they colonised South Kensington and Chelsea when Russian oligarchs were still putting aside their first roubles; they have learned English manners; they look to Prince Charles to understand male elegance; and they are grateful to have got their slice of the Beatles, David Beckham, James Bond and royal gossip.

The Guardian

The love is reciprocated by her.

The Guardian

And they have not reciprocated his show of goodwill.Indeed, there are big obstacles in the way of serious talks—let alone of a negotiated settlement.

The Economist

The affection does not seem to be entirely reciprocated.

The Economist

EARLIER this year Vasily Atajanyan, the acting foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, told me that his "country" would recognise Kosovo if the former Yugoslav province reciprocated.

The Economist

The symbolic message was reciprocated with anti-Japanese riots in Chinese cities.Mr Abe used to be an assiduous visitor to Yasukuni too: but he has stayed away for a year now.

The Economist

A German engineer, Helmut Szimkus, sentenced to death in 1992 for spying for Iraq, was later pardoned after intense German lobbying.The trouble is that Iran is not now in the mood for compromise: it feels that past favours were not reciprocated.

The Economist

India never reciprocated Pakistan's "freeze", refuses talk about a global fissile-material ban and last year refused to sign the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (so Pakistan did not either).

The Economist

The Somalis reciprocated by declaring that they would no longer support rebels inside Ethiopia.

The Economist

In the past two years, President Chen Shui-bian showed moderation towards China and the Chinese leadership reciprocated with a softening of its positions.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reciprocated" to clearly indicate a return of feeling, action, or gesture, ensuring the subject receiving the original action is clearly defined. For example, "His kindness was readily reciprocated by his neighbors."

Common error

Ensure that the subject who is "reciprocated" is the one receiving the initial action. A common mistake is to imply the wrong direction of the exchange, leading to confusion. For instance, avoid saying "He reciprocated her to the gift" but rather "He reciprocated her generosity."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reciprocated" is that of a past participle verb, indicating an action that was returned or mirrored. Ludwig AI showcases numerous examples where it highlights actions, feelings, or gestures being returned or mirrored by another party.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reciprocated" functions as a past participle verb, used to describe an action, feeling, or gesture that has been returned or mirrored. As Ludwig AI explains, its primary purpose is to indicate a mutual exchange. It is commonly found in news media and encyclopedias, and its register is neutral. Use "reciprocated" when you want to indicate that an action or feeling has been returned in kind. Remember to avoid redundancy by not adding "back" after "reciprocated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returned in kind

This alternative directly implies that something is given back in a similar form or manner.

mirrored

This suggests a direct reflection or imitation of an action or feeling.

given in return

This emphasizes the act of giving something back as a response.

responded similarly

Focuses on the similarity of the response to the initial action.

acted in response

Highlights the action taken as a direct result of another's action.

answered in kind

Implies a response that matches the style or intensity of the original action.

paid back

Suggests a return of something owed, whether tangible or intangible.

followed suit

Indicates that someone imitated or copied a previous action.

matched

Implies that someone equaled or corresponded to an action.

did the same

A simple way of saying that an action was duplicated by another.

FAQs

How can I use "reciprocated" in a sentence?

Use "reciprocated" to show that an action, feeling, or gesture was returned. For example, "The love he showed was fully reciprocated by his family."

What are some alternatives to using "reciprocated"?

Alternatives include "returned in kind", "mirrored", or "given in return", each offering a slightly different nuance to the concept of something being returned or mirrored.

Is it correct to say "the feeling was reciprocated back"?

Saying "reciprocated back" is redundant. The word "reciprocated" already implies a return, so it's best to simply say "the feeling was reciprocated."

What's the difference between "reciprocated" and "responded"?

"Reciprocated" implies a direct and equal return of something, such as a feeling or action. "Responded", on the other hand, is a more general term that simply means to answer or react to something, without necessarily implying a direct equivalence or return.