[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/retaliate/)

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# retaliate

verb (retaliate, retaliates, retaliated, retaliating)

«retaliate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To do something bad back to someone who has hurt or attacked you; to hit back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#m1)

### In the lessons

In PSHE and school rules, pupils are told not to retaliate but to tell an adult. In history and news, countries retaliate after attacks. Phrases: retaliate against, retaliate by.

### Examples

- If someone pushes you, don't retaliate; tell a teacher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x1)
- He retaliated by throwing sand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x2)
- The army retaliated after the attack. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x3)
- She was sent off for retaliating. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x4)
- The cat retaliated with a scratch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x5)
- Don't retaliate, it only makes things worse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: retaliated. Noun: retaliation. Similar: hit back, get even, take revenge.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «retaliate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/retaliate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«retaliate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/retaliate.html) on Mova free.