react

American  

[ree-akt] / riˈækt /

verb (used without object)

1. to act in response to an agent or influence.

   How did the audience react to the speech?

2. to act reciprocally upon each other, as two things.

3. to act in a reverse direction or manner, especially so as to return to a prior condition.

4. to act in opposition, as against some force.

5. to respond to a stimulus in a particular manner.

   reacting to a shock by jumping; to react to the word “coward” with anger.

6. to undergo a chemical reaction.

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react British  

/ rɪˈækt /

verb

1. (intr; foll by to, upon etc) (of a person or thing) to act in response to another person, a stimulus, etc, or (of two people or things) to act together in a certain way

2. to act in an opposing or contrary manner

3. (intr) physics to exert an equal force in the opposite direction to an acting force

4. chem to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction

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Etymology

Origin of react

First recorded in 1635–45; re- + act, probably modeled on Medieval Latin reagere

Example Sentences

And the more I read, the more it opened up thinking, like, how would a very strong family react to this?

From Los Angeles Times

If the snake does strike, he noted, “they strike faster than people can react to the strike.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Given that these days, EPS revisions are the almost sole driver of investment sentiment, we expect investors will react positively.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Financial markets in both countries swung sharply in recent weeks as investors react to developments in the war.

From BBC

In addition, shifting wartime assets to western Saudi bases could have raised sensitive diplomatic issues as American officials were worried about how other Gulf states would react.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acknowledge
• act
• answer
• behave
• counter
• feel
• perform
• proceed
• reply
• revert