react

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verb re·act \ rē-ˈakt \

Definition of react

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

:to cause to react

See react defined for English-language learners

See react defined for kids

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 of react from the Web

Hollywood street signs named after Confederate generals Hollywood residents react to the city possibly changing its street signs named after Confederate generals.

— patricia mazzei, miamiherald, "After Charlottesville, Florida Democrats running for governor decry politics of hate," 28 Aug. 2017
FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump reacts before speaking at a rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix.

— Washington Post, "Trump prepares to lift limits on military gear for police," 27 Aug. 2017
Former Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser reacts to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's remarks at the Fed's annual summit in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

— Bloomberg.com, "Plosser Says Yellen Missed an Opportunity at Jackson Hole," 25 Aug. 2017
When an onion is sliced, these sacs rupture, releasing the allinase which then reacts with the onion's amino acids to create sulfenic acid.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "This Enzyme Is Why Onions Make You Cry," 23 Aug. 2017
Do islands within an island react against those impulses or embrace them with extra fervor?

— mark ellwood, CNT, "How Island Nations Are Bound Together by More Than Water," 14 Aug. 2017
That is not how those in attendance reacted, describing it as profound moment in a fractious relationship.

— shane goldmacher, New York Times, "Tensions Flare as Cuomo Confronts Democratic Rift," 9 Aug. 2017
Now, in an interview with Vicky Ward in the Huffington Post, Scaramucci has reacted to his departure from the Trump administration, and told his side of the story about how his work affected his personal life.

— megan friedman, Marie Claire, "Scaramucci Opens Up About Missing His Son's Birth and the Collapse of His Marriage: "It's Fine"," 2 Aug. 2017
While thousands of people reacted to the tweet, some even included their own opinions about the controversy.

— katina beniaris, Country Living, "Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? A Local Newspaper Says No," 25 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'react.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of react

New Latin reactus, past participle of reagere, from Latin re- + agere to act — more at agent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1644

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react Synonyms

Synonyms

reply, respond

Related Words

answer, return; retaliate; construe, interpret, read, take, understand; contend (with), cope (with), grapple (with), handle, manage, negotiate

Near Antonyms

act, behave; affect, cause, draw, effect

REACT Defined for English Language Learners

react

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verb

Definition of react for English Language Learners

: to behave or change in a particular way when something happens, is said, etc.
of a chemical substance : to change after coming into contact with another substance
medical : to be affected by a drug, food, etc., in usually a bad way

REACT Defined for Kids

react

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verb re·act \ rē-ˈakt \

Definition of react for Students

reacted; reacting

1 :to act or behave in response to something

Firefighters reacted quickly to the situation.

2 :to oppose a force or influence Hint: In this sense, react is usually used with against.

Workers reacted against unfair treatment.

3 :to go through a chemical reaction

Acids react with bases to form salt.

Medical Dictionary

react

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intransitive verb re·act \ rē-ˈakt \

medical Definition of react

1 :to respond to a stimulus

2 :to undergo chemical reaction

transitive verb

:to cause to react

Learn More about react

See words that rhyme with react Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for react Spanish Central: Translation of react Nglish: Translation of react for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of react for Arabic speakers

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REACT Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of react for English Language Learners

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react

medical Definition of react

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