MEANING
1. To reply quickly and sharply to a remark or accusation.
2. A closed vessel used to heat substances and collect or separate products released from them.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- retort angrily
- sharp retort
On the page
“Then explain the missing page,” she retorted.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- retort
- Past tense
- retorted
- Past participle
- retorted
- Present participle
- retorting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- retort
- Present continuous
- am/is/are retorting
- Present perfect
- have/has retorted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been retorting
- Past
- retorted
- Past continuous
- was/were retorting
- Past perfect
- had retorted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been retorting
- Future
- will retort
- Future continuous
- will be retorting
- Future perfect
- will have retorted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been retorting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: retort; retorts; retorted; retorted; retorting. Noun singular retort; plural retorts. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: retorts.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.