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

“Whether it’s a kick or a punt or a pass, they would react.”

From Los Angeles Times

Snell’s outing was a grind from the start, with Rushing misfiring to first base for an error in the first inning and Betts reacting slowly to a ground ball at shortstop to extend the second.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s one thing to design clothes, it’s something else again to hang around the salesrooms watching the public react to them,” Armani told Time magazine in 1982.

From Los Angeles Times

One unknown is how LGBTQ+ students and students from families with LGBTQ+ members will react when classmates leave and when teaching materials reflecting their lives are presented.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was reposted by multiple other accounts and disseminated further through “stitches” of individuals reacting to the post on TikTok and other platforms.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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