WordGarden.ioreact
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪˈækt/
US
- /riˈækt/
Meanings
Verb
to respond to something with a feeling, action, or change
to undergo or cause a chemical reaction
Proper-noun
React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces
Beyond the definition
To react means to respond to something: an event, a statement, or an action. It is what happens after something else happens. One thing comes first, and then you react. You might react with joy to good news, or react defensively if someone criticizes you. Sometimes the response is quick and physical, like jumping back from a loud noise. Other times it is slower and more thoughtful. The noun form, "reaction," is the response itself. In science, a reaction can also mean that substances combine or change.
To react means to respond to a stimulus, event, or situation. It describes how someone or something behaves as a consequence of an external force or influence. For example: "She reacted with anger when she heard the news," or "The metal will react to heat and expand."
Reactions can be immediate and instinctive, like flinching from pain, or they can be more deliberate and considered, involving thought and planning. You might react to a question by giving an answer, or react to a challenge by accepting it. The noun form, "reaction," refers to the response itself: "His reaction was one of disbelief."
The word also has a specific meaning in chemistry and physics. A chemical reaction involves the transformation of substances into new ones through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. For example, mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy reaction.
However, in everyday language, "react" usually refers to human or animal behavior – how we respond emotionally, physically, or mentally to things happening around us. It's about cause and effect: something happens to you, and your reaction is what happens because of it. So whether it's a simple reflex, an emotional outburst, or a scientific process, "react" always implies a response to something else.
Examples
- 1
Quiet response
She barely reacted when I told her the news.
- 2
Sudden sound
He reacted quickly to the sound of breaking glass.
- 3
Crowd excitement
The crowd reacted with excitement when the band came on stage.
- Patternreact with + feeling
show that feeling in your response
- 4
Criticism
She reacted badly to the criticism at first.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Stress response
Some people react to stress by working longer hours.
- Patternreact to + situation by doing X
respond by doing X
- 6
Skin reaction
My skin reacted to the new soap, so I stopped using it.
- 7
Market response
The market reacted nervously to the rise in oil prices.
- 8
Chemistry
This chemical reacts with water, so keep it dry.
- Domainin chemistry, react with
combine with another substance and change
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- reactverb
Forms
- reactedpast tenseverb
- reacting-ing formverb
- reactsverb