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Meaning & use

resort to

phrase·Academic

Last updated

UK/rɪˈzɔːt tu/
US/rɪˈzɔːrt tu/

Meanings

  1. phrasetransitive

    to do something unpleasant or extreme because no other way is possible or available.

    Grammar: Takes an object: resort to violence. The object can also be an -ing form: resort to lying.

    Patterns

    • resort to something
    • resort to doing something

    When peaceful talks failed, the government resorted to force.

    She hates conflict, so she rarely resorts to arguing.

    If the pain continues, doctors may resort to surgery.

  2. phrasetransitiveformal

    to go to or make use of a place or person as a final option.

    Grammar: Used with a place or person as the object. Often followed by 'for' + noun: resort to a friend for help.

    Patterns

    • resort to someone for something
    • resort to something for something

    In an emergency, we can resort to the backup generator.

    They resorted to their grandparents for financial support.

    The team resorted to the library for old records.

Common combinations

resort to violence
The protest remained peaceful; no one resorted to violence.
resort to force
The police were criticized for resorting to force too quickly.
resort to crime
Poverty can push people to resort to crime.
resort to tricks
The salesman resorted to tricks to close the deal.
resort to desperate measures
With no other options, they resorted to desperate measures.

Synonyms and how they differ

turn to
Turn to is more neutral and often suggests looking for help or comfort, while resort to often suggests a negative or last-choice action.
fall back on
Fall back on means to use something as a backup, often a resource you already have; resort to focuses on the action being a last option, not necessarily a backup.
stoop to
Stoop to means to lower your moral standards to do something; it is stronger and more disapproving than resort to.

Word family

resort noun
A place where people go on vacation, or a course of action you take.
resort verb
To go often to a place; used in the phrase 'resort to'.

Commonly confused: resort to or resort?

resort to vs resort

As a noun, 'resort' means a vacation place (a beach resort) or a solution (a last resort). The phrasal verb 'resort to' is different: it means to do something as a last option.

Practice

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