🇬🇧🇪🇸 retort - replicar : English Lesson

Meaning of "retort" ("replicar"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

To retort means to answer someone very quickly, usually because you feel annoyed or because you want to be clever or funny. When you retort, you snap back with words, sometimes like a mini verbal slap or a silly comeback. It’s not a calm, slow answer; it’s a fast, strong reply that shows what you think right away.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

“Don’t eat all the cookies!” Mom yelled, and I retorted, “I’m just protecting them from going stale!”

The coach yelled, “Run faster!” and I retorted, “If I run any faster, I’ll time-travel to next week.”

When my friend shouted, “You’re so short!” I retorted, “I’m just concentrated awesome.”

“You’re such a nerd,” a kid sneered, and I retorted, “Thank you, I prefer ‘future billionaire.’”

When Dad groaned, “Why is the fridge empty?” I retorted, “Because you raised a highly efficient snack machine: me.”

On the bus, a boy teased her hat and retorted when she smiled. She retorted with a grin, then retorted again when he laughed louder. He tried a rude joke; she retorted sharply, calm but bright, and the whole bus watched. The boy retorted, then blushed; the bus laughed and he walked away.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.