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. intrfoll byagainst 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

D’Agostino said the utility brought in social scientists to try and get a better gauge on how people react to different kinds of warnings.

From Voice of San Diego

Samples from the first five volunteers reacted to both tuberculosis and Candida.

From Quanta Magazine

It is to generally be disposed to act and react to the world as if that is so.

From Nautilus

In 2011, Jason Moser studied how the brain reacts when people make an error.

From Science News For Students

The police were clearly confused by my reaction, but I didn’t know how else to react.

From Ozy

People watch night soaps because the genre allows them to believe in a world where people just react off their baser instincts.

From The Daily Beast

I know, some of you will now react by saying that the Netanyahu government supports a Palestinian state.

From The Daily Beast

Instead of reacting to Republican proposals, President Obama is forcing Republicans to react to him.

From The Daily Beast

These insights and discoveries help PepsiCo anticipate, rather than react to, an ever-changing consumer landscape.

From The Daily Beast

The country has the ability to react very quickly because of the experience of the physicians and the political will to do so.

From The Daily Beast

But Most's attitude toward me will influence them: it will dampen their enthusiasm, and thus react on the propaganda.

From Project Gutenberg

As to walking, though the earth be stepped on by the feet, it does not react (or, experience) as a consequence.

From Project Gutenberg

But as yet this feeling had not begun in any way to react upon the army.

From Project Gutenberg

Take, for instance, the matter of a caress or an embrace—how would you react to repeated rebuff?

From Project Gutenberg

This pressure soon began to react upon the centers of Latin culture.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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