əˈsaɪləm ɹɪˈkɔːs ˈɹiːkɔɹs ɹɪˈko(ː)ɹs ˈɹɛfjuːdʒ ɹɨˈzɔ(ɹ)t ˈseɪfti ˈsæŋktjʊəɹi ˈsæŋkt͡ʃuˌɛɹi act of turning to for assistance have recourse to the courts an appeal to his uncle was his last resort a shelter from danger or hardship something or someone turned to for assistance or security his only recourse was the police took refuge in lying a safe place He ran to safety