reacted; reacting; reacts
1
: to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence
—often used with on or upon
2
: to change in response to a stimulus
3
: to act in opposition to a force or influence
—usually used with against
4
: to move or tend in a reverse direction
5
: to undergo chemical reaction
: to cause to react
Examples of react in a Sentence
When I told her what happened, she reacted with anger.
I didn't expect him to react that way.
The firefighters reacted quickly when they heard the alarm.
He reacted badly to the drug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Her acting is richly focused — always working towards obstacle, objective, and reacting honestly to what she is given.
—
Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
And, as those producers and growers of food react to and absorb these price increases, they'll be passed along to the consumer, to that mom in the store.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
North Korea often reacts to the exercise with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In another scene, Styles reacts with disgust after learning that a car accident victim in immense pain is up-to-date on his vaccines.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for react
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Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
And, as those producers and growers of food react to and absorb these price increases, they'll be passed along to the consumer, to that mom in the store.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
North Korea often reacts to the exercise with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
In another scene, Styles reacts with disgust after learning that a car accident victim in immense pain is up-to-date on his vaccines.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for react
Cite this Entry
“React.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/react. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
react
verb
re·act
rē-ˈakt 
1
: to act or behave in response (as to stimulation or an influence)
the colonists reacted to the tax by boycotting tea
2
: to oppose a force or influence
—usually used with against
reacted against their unfair treatment
3
: to go through or cause to go through a chemical reaction
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