reciprocating

Verb

reciprocate (third-person singular simple present reciprocates, present participle reciprocating, simple past and past participle reciprocated)

1. (transitive) To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
   • The USTR isn't reciprocating actual tariffs. It's just placing the biggest tariffs on the countries running the biggest trade surpluses.2025 April 3, Felix Salmon, “How to read the White House's tariff formula”, in Axios
2. To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.
   • I gave them apples from my tree; they reciprocated with a pie and some apple jelly.
3. (intransitive) To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.
   • a reciprocating engine
4. (intransitive) To counter, retort or retaliate.