resort

1 of 3

noun

re·​sort ri-ˈzȯrt 

1

a

: one that affords aid or refuge : resource

went to them as a last/final resort

b

: recourse sense 1a

—often used with to

The police hope to end the standoff without resort to force.

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

resolve the crisis without resorting to violence

re-sort

3 of 3

verb (2)

(ˌ)rē-ˈsȯrt 

re-sorted; re-sorting; re-sorts

transitive verb

: to sort again

Synonyms of resort

Noun

• haunt

Verb (1)

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

Verb (1)

unable to achieve their ends politically, some of the opposition groups have begun to resort to violence

resorted to the library whenever he felt the need for a little peace and quiet

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to AccuWeather, the Northeast and Appalachians will see cold snaps in early November and December which should help resorts lay down an early snow base before icier conditions move in during January. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Moon Boot and Guest in Residence‘s collaborative winter resort collection launches Friday, presenting 16 special-edition boot options. —Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025

Verb

There will be an assortment of fall 2025 and resort 2026 ready to-wear, including four exclusive versions spanning a dress in gold foil fil coupé fabric and the bestselling Bankes dickey jacket offered in a light russet colorway. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025

Enjoy the surrounding forest on backcountry trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or hok skis (which provide a mix between the two), then return to resort fun with the on-site skating rink and tube slide. —Outside, 3 Nov. 2025

Verb

Pandemic assistance from the government helped level the playing field for a time, but by 2024, mounting inflation pressures and elevated interest rates had begun to re-sort consumers according to their ability to withstand financial stress. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2025

If Congress cuts Medicaid funding to states to help extend tax cuts, dental care for adults could be one of the first casualties as legislators and governors re-sort priorities and try to make do with less. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025

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

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1836, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing resort

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

Rhymes for resort

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

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