react

[ree-akt]

verb (used without object)

1. to act in response to an agent or influence.

   How did the audience react to the speech?

2. to act reciprocally upon each other, as two things.

3. to act in a reverse direction or manner, especially so as to return to a prior condition.

4. to act in opposition, as against some force.

5. to respond to a stimulus in a particular manner.

   reacting to a shock by jumping; to react to the word “coward” with anger.

6. to undergo a chemical reaction.

react

/ rɪˈækt /

verb

1. (intr; foll by to, upon etc) (of a person or thing) to act in response to another person, a stimulus, etc, or (of two people or things) to act together in a certain way

2. to act in an opposing or contrary manner

3. (intr) physics to exert an equal force in the opposite direction to an acting force

4. chem to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction

Word History and Origins

Origin of react¹

First recorded in 1635–45; re- + act, probably modeled on Medieval Latin reagere

Word History and Origins

Origin of react¹

C17: from Late Latin reagere , from _re- + Latin agere to drive, do

Example Sentences

Complete numbness of the body and mind, a shutdown of all parts of my brain that react and obsess over the outside world.

Read more on Salon

However, as news of Ms Jarrett’s death spread and anger grew, some of community began to react violently, attacking the police with bottles and bricks.

Read more on BBC

And instances elsewhere show that playing in certain cities can affect how fans react to some players.

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“I didn’t know how to react, how to act, what to say,” Doncic tells me.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They observed that Y1R neurons did not simply react to quick bursts of pain; instead, they kept firing steadily during prolonged pain, a phenomenon known as “tonic activity.”

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• acknowledge 
• act 
• answer 
• behave 
• counter 
• feel 
• perform 
• proceed 
• reply 
• revert