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
The artificial animals react to light.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Fans react to a point scored during the second set of the singles finals between Taylor Fritz (USA) and Ben Shelton (USA) of the Dallas Open men's tennis tournament was held at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on February 15, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Michelle accentuated her features with her now-signature smoky eyeshadow and nude lip, closing her eyes as her husband—who coordinated with her in a black suit and dress shirt—reacted over to plant a kiss on her cheek.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
The Van Huss family released a statement reacting to the sentencing.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for react
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Fans react to a point scored during the second set of the singles finals between Taylor Fritz (USA) and Ben Shelton (USA) of the Dallas Open men's tennis tournament was held at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on February 15, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Michelle accentuated her features with her now-signature smoky eyeshadow and nude lip, closing her eyes as her husband—who coordinated with her in a black suit and dress shirt—reacted over to plant a kiss on her cheek.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
The Van Huss family released a statement reacting to the sentencing.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 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 Feb. 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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