WordGarden.iointeraction
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌɪntərˈækʃən/
US
- /ˌɪnərˈækʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a mutual effect or influence between things
communication or contact between people
a user's action or exchange with a digital system
More meaningsFewer meanings
an effect that chemical substances have on one another through reaction or molecular association
an effect that forces or macroscopic physical bodies have on one another
an effect between subatomic particles, nuclei, or quantum fields
an effect that organisms, populations, or ecological communities have on one another
an effect between cells, tissues, organs, or physiological systems within an organism
a statistical effect where one variable changes another relationship
Beyond the definition
Think about a busy marketplace: vendors calling out prices, customers bargaining, and friends chatting. That is interaction. It is the way people, things, or ideas affect one another. It is not just talking; it can be any situation where two or more things connect and cause a result. A simple handshake is an interaction, but so is the way chemicals affect each other in a science experiment. Sometimes these moments are positive, like a helpful conversation, and sometimes they are negative, like a heated argument. The key idea is that something happens because of that connection.
Interaction refers to the reciprocal action or influence between two or more things. It is far broader than just "communication," though communication is certainly a primary type of interaction. Think of it as any instance where entities—whether people, animals, objects, forces, or even ideas—affect each other in some way.
In social contexts, interaction describes how people relate to one another: "The children had a playful interaction at the park," or "Effective teamwork requires strong interaction between members." Psychologists study social interactions to better understand human behavior and the health of relationships.
But interaction isn't limited to humans! In physics, we talk about the gravitational interaction between planets. In chemistry, the term describes how molecules react when they come into contact. Even in computer science, "user interaction" refers to the way people engage with software or websites—clicking buttons, typing commands, or scrolling through feeds.
The word can also be used more abstractly. We might discuss the "interaction of light and shadow" in a painting, or the "interaction between history and culture." This highlights how different elements combine and influence each other to create something new. Whether it is a friendly chat, a chemical reaction, or the forces that govern the universe, interaction is about connection, influence, and the way different parts of the world affect one another.
Examples
- 1
Classroom
The class was quiet at first, but group work created more interaction among the students.
- 2
Customer service
Her interaction with customers is always friendly and professional.
- 3
Formal meeting
There was a brief interaction between the two leaders before the meeting began.
- 4
Office life
Remote workers sometimes miss the casual interaction of an office.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Website use
The website records each interaction a visitor has with a page.
- 6
Research factors
The study looked at the interaction between diet, sleep, and stress.
- 7
Game design
The game encourages interaction by letting players trade items and send messages.
- 8
Medical safety
Tell your doctor about all your medicines to avoid a dangerous drug interaction.
- Domaindrug interaction
when one medicine changes the effect of another
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- dialogue
- interplay
- engagement
Contrast
- isolation
- monologue
Used with (collocations)
- social interaction
- human interaction
- interaction between
- drug interaction
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- interactionnoun
Forms
- interactionspluralnoun