resort

1 of 3

noun

re·​sort ri-ˈzȯrt 

1

a

: one that affords aid or refuge : resource

went to them as a last resort

b

: recourse sense 1a

have resort to outside help

2

a

: frequent, habitual, or general visiting

a place of popular resort

b

: persons who frequent a place : throng

c(1)

: a frequently visited place : haunt

(2)

: a place designed to provide recreation, entertainment, and accommodation especially to vacationers : a community or establishment whose purpose or main industry is catering to vacationers

resort

2 of 3

verb (1)

resorted; resorting; resorts

intransitive verb

1

: to go especially frequently or habitually : repair

2

: to have recourse

resort to force

re-sort

3 of 3

verb (2)

(ˌ)rē-ˈsȯrt 

re-sorted; re-sorting; re-sorts

transitive verb

: to sort again

Synonyms

Noun

• hangout
• haunt
• purlieu
• rendezvous
• stamping ground
• stomping ground

Verb (1)

• consult
• go (to)
• refer (to)
• turn (to)

Choose the Right Synonym for resort

resource, resort, expedient, shift, makeshift, stopgap mean something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply.

resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources

a last resort

expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

Examples of resort in a Sentence

Noun

Our first resort was to go to the police.

the island port was once the resort of smugglers, pirates, and other unsavory characters

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The temporary closures are coming after the spring break crowds have started to dwindle at the Anaheim resort, and most of the attractions are expected to reopen before the summer crowds begin to arrive, a spokesperson for the theme park said. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The resort has racked up $18.1 million (€16.7 million) in losses in the nine years since his takeover. —Alex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024

In the past, that could be done in advance online or in person at both resorts. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

My plan was this: to hike up with my skis from the top of the gondola at the Stowe ski resort, to the peak of Mt. Mansfield, the highest point in the state, and to watch the eclipse from there. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2024

With more than 300 sunny days per year, daytime temps that rarely dip below 65, and an armada of resorts, Phoenix, Arizona is a great getaway for any group gathering that prioritizes pool time, day drinking, and a few rounds of golf. —Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2024

Now, the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation is restoring the Spanish-style building that sits at the center of the resort community. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

It was also named that magazine’s best resort in the U.S., best hotel in Florida, best hotel in Miami Beach, best resort in Florida and best resort in Miami Beach in its annual awards. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Epic Universe will be the fourth theme park to join the Florida resort’s Universal Studios (the original park), Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay Water Park. —Mackenzie Schmidt, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

Timeshare owners are pre-paying for the right to use time at a hotel or resort property and often have difficulty in the resale market. —USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024

For tonight’s show, Mahal will change into his signature straw hat and shades, his hippie chic giving away to resort wear. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 Mar. 2024

The special counsel also charged Trump and two co-defendants — aide Walt Nauta and resort employee Carlos de Oliveira — with crimes that amounted to accusations of moving boxes of government records to avoid detection and unsuccessfully trying to get security camera footage erased. —Robert Legare, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2024

In 2023, the group advised on the sale of seven golf and resort properties across the country totaling over $282 million, according to the news release. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024

The couple had two full days of events, and most of their guests stayed at the El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels resort for a few extra days to enjoy the beaches and amenities at their leisure while getting to know each other’s family and friends. —USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024

Last year was marked by news of hotel and resort developments across the Kingdom, from AlUla, the ancient oasis city near the sandstone monuments of Hegra; to the Red Sea coast and its islands; Sindalah Island, part of the Neom gigaproject; and the historic settlement of Diriyah. —Clare Dight, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2024

Coach Benjy is onsite to help resort guests with packages that include court time and skills-enhancing workshops. —Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024

The provincial government of British Columbia delayed the opening of a Northland Properties resort in 2011 after a contractor for the company contaminated a water source in the resort town of Revelstoke, according to news reports. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2024

Verb

In many parts of the country, the divide between red and blue has prompted a re-sorting in which moving states has seemed simpler to tens of thousands of people than changing the party in charge. —Scott Wilson, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, return, source of aid, from Anglo-French, from resortir to rebound, resort, from re- + Old French sortir to go out, leave

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1889, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resort

• resort to
• last resort
• weapon of last resort
• without resort to

Kids Definition

resort

1 of 2 noun

re·​sort ri-ˈzȯ(ə)rt 

1

a

: someone or something that is looked to for help

a last resort

b

: recourse sense 1

have resort to force

2

a

: frequent, habitual, or general visiting

a place of popular resort

b

: a frequently visited place : hangout

c

: a place providing recreation and entertainment especially to vacationers

a ski resort

resort

2 of 2 verb

1

: to go especially frequently or habitually

2

: to turn to for aid, relief, or advantage

resort to violence