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react Definition

re·act (rē akt)

intransitive verb

  1. to act in return or reciprocally
  2. to act in opposition
  3. to act in a reverse way; go back to a former condition, stage, etc.
  4. to respond to a stimulus; be affected by some influence, event, etc.
  5. Chem. to act with another substance in producing a chemical change

Etymology: < LL reactus, pp. of reagere < L re-, again + agere, to act

transitive verb

to cause to react; specif., to produce a chemical change in

  • reacquaint
  • reacquaintance
  • reacquire
  • reacquisition

react Synonyms

react

v.

  1. To act in response

    reciprocate, respond, answer, counter, reply, behave, give back, act; see also answer 1.

  2. To feel in response

    be affected, respond, take, be struck, be impressed, be moved, be involved, find, catch the infection*, catch the flame*; see also feel 2.

react Usage Examples

Adjective complement

quick: Lee Trundle collected Sam Ricketts ' deflected right-wing cross, and although his shot was partially blocked, Connor reacted quickest to slide home.

Modifying Another Word

  • angrily: Officials of the local government union Unison reacted angrily.
  • differently: We all react differently to what we have just seen.
  • negatively: Sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome appear to potentially react negatively to abnormal exercise.
  • violently: Sulfur trioxide Sulfur trioxide reacts violently with water to produce a fog of concentrated sulphuric acid droplets.
  • positively: On the other hand, most people there react very positively to your efforts at speaking Dutch, which is great.
  • badly: I reacted badly to them all of there was no improvement.

Used with why or when

when: How did Matthew and Samuel react when you told them they'd won?

Infinitive complement

stress: Some react to stress by expressing their fears openly.

Present participle complement

accord: All staff will be trained to be aware of disabilities and react according to a pre-determined plan.

Preposition: in

  • manner: If the child reacts in an adverse manner to any stimulation then STOP!
  • anger: Parents reacted in anger at the decision and plan to resume a series of protests.
  • way: Whatever the cause, our body reacts in the same way - the ' fight or flight ' response to a stressful event.
  • situation: We wonder how we would react in such situations.

Preposition: with

  • dismay: At the 1 February meeting those present were shown the currently proposed wording of this section by Dr. Pickles, and reacted with dismay.
  • chlorine: Manganese is a naturally occurring metal, but when dissolved in water it can react with chlorine added during treatment and turn black.
  • oxygen: Elements like phosphorus and silicon react with the oxygen to form acidic oxides.
  • anger: These are such blatantly unjust situations that we must react with anger.
  • ammonia: Mercury can react with ammonia to produce an explosive solid.
  • carbonate: Vinegar in fact contains acetic acid and this reacts with the calcium carbonate making up the shell of the egg.

Browse dictionary entries near react

  1. reaching
  2. reach-me-down
  3. reach
  4. re-up
  5. re-tread
  6. re-trace
  7. -'re
  8. re-press
  9. re-
  10. re-lease
  1. reactance
  2. reactant
  3. reaction
  4. reaction engine
  5. reaction formation
  6. reaction time
  7. reactionary
  8. reactivate
  9. reactive
  10. reactor