retort

/rɪˈtɔːt/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈtɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈtȯrt/ (ame, mw)

retort — 動詞

  • retortpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • retortshe / she / it
  • retortedpast simple
  • retorting-ing form

1. to reply to someone immediately and sharply when you feel annoyed, offended, or

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

反駁；回嘴

立即且尖銳地回應

to reply to someone immediately and sharply when you feel annoyed, offended, or want to make a witty point — often using a short, cutting remark that shuts down the conversation

例句

When Theo's boss blamed him for the delay, he retorted that the missing data had only arrived that morning.

Theo 的老闆指責他拖延進度時，他反駁說缺失的資料當天早上才送達。

retort + that-clause for reporting what was said

Ananya retorted with a sarcastic comment the moment her brother laughed at her cooking.

Ananya 的哥哥嘲笑她做的菜時，她用一句諷刺的話回嘴。

retort + with + noun phrase

同義詞
  • reply

    neutral; no implication of sharpness or wit

  • respond

    slightly more formal than reply; used in any context

  • snap

    more informal and angrier than retort

  • rejoin

    formal; a quick clever reply, especially in an argument

反義詞
  • concede

    to agree or give in, rather than answer sharply

文法句型

retort + that-clause

retort + direct speech

retort + with + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in narrative or reported speech. Unlike reply or respond, retort signals that the answer is quick, sharp, and often dismissive or witty. The person retorting usually has the upper hand in the exchange.

常見錯誤

❌She retorted the question.
✅She retorted that the question was unfair.
💡retort cannot take a direct object that is a person or a thing; use retort + that-clause or retort + direct speech.
❌He retorted politely to her suggestion.
✅He replied politely to her suggestion.
💡retort implies sharpness; for a neutral or polite answer, use reply or respond instead.

retort — 名詞