react

verb

re·​act rē-ˈakt 

reacted; reacting; reacts

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

• respond

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

Pakistan reacted with fury to the strikes and conducted retaliatory air and artillery strikes against positions tied to the Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front separatist groups in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

However, some produce doesn’t react the right way to colder temperatures. —Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 21 June 2025

The craft reacted to the pressure signature by powering off the thrusters. —ArsTechnica, 21 June 2025

Mahmoud Khalil, left, reacts alongside his wife, Noor Abdalla, right, upon arriving at Newark International Airport, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Newark, N.J. —Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing react

• react against

Rhymes for react

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Kids 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

Medical Definition

react

intransitive verb

re·​act rē-ˈakt 

1

: to respond to a stimulus

2

: to undergo chemical reaction

transitive verb

: to cause to react