reciprocateEnglishOxford American Thesaurusreciprocate verb 1 Karen had done her bit for me, and I was more than happy to reciprocate: do the same (in return), respond in kind, return the favor; give as good as one gets, give tit for tat. 2 a hopeless love that could not possibly be reciprocated: requite, return, feel/give in return, repay, give back; match, equal.