react

verb

re·act | \ rē-ˈakt

reacted; reacting; reacts

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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about react

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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

With July the hottest month in Florida, knowing the signs of heat stroke and how to react can prevent a health disaster. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, sun-sentinel.com, "Our record heat could be dangerous — or deadly. Here’s what you need to know.," 3 July 2019 But some reacted more quietly than others: among them, Saints quarterback Drew Brees. — John Sigler, Saints Wire, "Drew Brees gives signed jersey to Zion Williamson with personal message," 24 June 2019 They were then tasked with coloring the drawing in with special colored pencils that react like watercolor paint once brushed with water, said the nonprofit’s founder Vickie Marasco. — Emily K. Coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "Art Impact Project kicks off pilot program at Lake County jail," 16 June 2019 More than 20,000 people have reacted on Facebook to the photos, which have also been shared by McGee’s girlfriend, Adrianna Jean Broking. — Mark Price, charlotteobserver, "‘Horrifying’ photos show result when man tried to ignore a ‘baby rattlesnake’ bite," 4 June 2019 There are really only two ways to react to this Seletti monkey light fixture by Lumens. — Kaitlin Menza, House Beautiful, "Do You Love Or Hate This Monkey Lamp?," 30 Jan. 2019 So far, though, the researchers say people are reacting well to Irony Man. — Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "This Eye-Rolling Robot Understands Irony and Will Sass You Hard," 13 June 2019 Amygdalin reacts with enzymes in the intestines, and consuming enough of it can be deadly. — Jennifer Leman, Scientific American, "The Bitter Truth: Scientists Sequence the Almond Genome," 13 June 2019 Those air pollutants react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form airborne sulfuric and nitric acid. — National Geographic, "Acid rain, explained," 12 June 2019

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.