react

verb

re·​act rē-ˈakt How to pronounce react (audio)
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

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 Get your thinking done before the shot, and then shut off your conscious mind and react. Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2024 Continue reading … ‘OBEY THE LAW’ – AOC says Trump ‘willing to sell the country for a dollar’ as lawmakers react to potential property seizures. Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024 Your immune system jumps into action to react to the vaccine where it was injected: your arm. Korin Miller, Health, 19 Mar. 2024 People getting invested in a song and, reacting and then hearing their own parts in it was the alchemy making these songs come to life. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 19 Mar. 2024 But Trump didn’t react well to Harry’s possible interest in switching his allegiance to the United States. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024 Her ability to give and take, listen and react, creates honest yet hilarious performances. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Since steel and silver react to one another, the work’s colors and textures change over time, like skin exposed to sun. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 There was a close call when a truck stopped in front of her — and Ms. Amini did not immediately react. Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'react.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of react was in 1644

Dictionary Entries Near react

Cite this Entry

“React.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/react. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

react

verb
re·​act rē-ˈakt How to pronounce react (audio)
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 How to pronounce react (audio)
1
: to respond to a stimulus
2
: to undergo chemical reaction

transitive verb

: to cause to react

More from Merriam-Webster on react

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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