reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv 
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset
reactive depression
reactively
adverb
reactiveness
noun
Examples of reactive in a Sentence
The government's response to the problem was reactive rather than proactive.
Recent Examples on the Web
Up until this point, their private war had mostly been reactive.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
The Difference Of Agentic AI Traditional AI systems are reactive.
—Abhishek Singh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Like the smaller distilleries, the whiskey was aged for 12 years in used instead of new barrels, perhaps with the intention of releasing an older expression (the wood is less reactive in used barrels than in new charred oak).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025
The process, called phototoxicity, happens when light-reactive chemicals from fragrances and other substances sit on the skin and are exposed to sunlight.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
The Difference Of Agentic AI Traditional AI systems are reactive.
—Abhishek Singh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Like the smaller distilleries, the whiskey was aged for 12 years in used instead of new barrels, perhaps with the intention of releasing an older expression (the wood is less reactive in used barrels than in new charred oak).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025
The process, called phototoxicity, happens when light-reactive chemicals from fragrances and other substances sit on the skin and are exposed to sunlight.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reactive
Cite this Entry
“Reactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reactive. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv
1
: of or relating to reaction
2
: reacting or tending to react
Medical Definition
reactive
adjective
re·ac·tive
rē-ˈak-tiv
1
2
a
: readily responsive to a stimulus
the skin of the geriatric is less reactive than that of younger persons—Louis Tuft
Louis Tuft
b
: occurring as a result of stress or emotional upset especially from factors outside the organism
reactive depression
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share