Definition

1. Noun:

   • A place frequented for holidays or recreation: A resort is a location, often with hotels and entertainment, visited by people for vacation or leisure.
   • The act of turning to something for aid or as a solution: Resort refers to the action of using or depending on a particular person, method, or thing, especially when other options have failed.

2. Verb:

   • To turn to and adopt a course of action, often a last option: To resort to something means to use it or do it, especially because there is no other satisfactory way to achieve a goal.
   • (Archaic) To go, especially frequently or customarily: To resort to a place means to go there often.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Place):
  • We spent our vacation at a beautiful beach resort.
  • The ski resort was crowded during the holidays.
• Noun (Act of turning to):
  • The negotiation failed, so force was their final resort.
  • His only resort in the crisis was to ask his family for help.
• Verb:
  • If polite requests don't work, we may have to resort to legal action.
  • She never resorts to lying, even when it's difficult to tell the truth.

Advanced Usage

• "As a last resort": Used when all other options have been tried or considered and failed.
  • Surgery is only considered as a last resort.
• "In the last resort": Ultimately; when everything else is considered.
  • In the last resort, the safety of the passengers is the captain's responsibility.

Variants and Related Words

• Resorter (n): (Rare) A person who frequents a resort.
• Resort area (n): A geographical region known for its resorts. (This is a compound noun, not the target word alone).
  • The coastal town developed into a major resort area.

Synonyms

• Noun (Place): Retreat, spa, holiday center.
• Noun (Option): Recourse, refuge, alternative.
• Verb: Turn to, fall back on, employ, utilize.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word "resort" does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed with the preposition "to.")

Related Idioms

• "A last-ditch resort": A final, desperate attempt or option.
  • Selling the family heirloom was a last-ditch resort to pay the debts.
• "Without resort to": Without using or needing to use (something, often force or coercion).
  • The dispute was settled without resort to violence.

Noun

1. act of turning to for assistance
   • have recourse to the courts
   • an appeal to his uncle was his last resort
2. something or someone turned to for assistance or security
   • his only recourse was the police
   • took refuge in lying
3. a frequently visited place
4. a hotel located in a resort area

Verb

1. move, travel, or proceed toward some place
   • He repaired to his cabin in the woods
2. have recourse to
   • The government resorted to rationing meat