as in responds
to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence)
it was my first touchdown, and I didn't know how to react to the cheers of the crowd
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Recent Examples of reacts
Mid-video, Hazel suddenly reacts to an unfamiliar sound coming from outside the house.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Hal Hershfelt #17 of Washington Spirit reacts during the NWSL match between Denver Summit FC and Washington Spirit at Empower Field At Mile High on March 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Urban had already given Writer an extra dose of anesthesia before the surgeon came into the room, an action witnesses said was unusual because medical staff normally wait to see how a patient reacts to anesthesia before administering more.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Stephen Colbert reacts to girlfriend discourse Late Night talk show host Stephen Colbert even chimed in on the rumors.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The living starter reacts to weather and temperature changes, said Amanda Michael, who founded Jane the Bakery in 2011 and has recently become more focused on bread making.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026
Kornacki’s Cinderella and Champ Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts during the first half of a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on March 2 in Tucson, Ariz.
—Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
While everyone reacts differently, people who struggle with seasonal allergies, or allergic rhinitis, are often affected by all types of pollen.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
North Korea often reacts to the exercise with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Hal Hershfelt #17 of Washington Spirit reacts during the NWSL match between Denver Summit FC and Washington Spirit at Empower Field At Mile High on March 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Urban had already given Writer an extra dose of anesthesia before the surgeon came into the room, an action witnesses said was unusual because medical staff normally wait to see how a patient reacts to anesthesia before administering more.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Stephen Colbert reacts to girlfriend discourse Late Night talk show host Stephen Colbert even chimed in on the rumors.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The living starter reacts to weather and temperature changes, said Amanda Michael, who founded Jane the Bakery in 2011 and has recently become more focused on bread making.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026
Kornacki’s Cinderella and Champ Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts during the first half of a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on March 2 in Tucson, Ariz.
—Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
While everyone reacts differently, people who struggle with seasonal allergies, or allergic rhinitis, are often affected by all types of pollen.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
North Korea often reacts to the exercise with its own weapons tests and fiery rhetoric.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reacts
responds
Verb
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Visitors ask the video questions and the virtual survivor responds with answers that draw from the hours of interviews.—
Lauren Costantino
March 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike conventional systems that are often heavy and mechanically complex, this lightweight material responds to external stimuli such as heat.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reacts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reacts. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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