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react

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /riˈækt/

Forms: reacts, reacting, reacted

react means: If you hear or experience something, you do or feel something because of it.

verb

RESPONDB1

If you hear or experience something, you do or feel something because of it.

  • How did he react to the news?
  • She reacted calmly when the alarm sounded.
  • People react differently to criticism.

How to use it: react to someone/something (The children reacted well to their new teacher.); react by doing something (He reacted by walking out.); react with something (She reacted with surprise to the invitation.)

Similar words: respond

Common phrases: react to something, react with surprise, react quickly, react with anger

BODY RESPONSEB2

Your body changes in some way because of a medicine, food, or other substance.

  • My skin reacts badly to this soap.
  • She reacted to the medicine with a rash.
  • Does your body react to certain foods?

How to use it: react to something (His skin reacts to some washing powders.)

Similar words: respond

Common phrases: react to medicine, react badly, react to something

CHEMICAL CHANGEB2

Substances change when they meet, often producing different substances.

  • Iron can react with oxygen.
  • The chemicals reacted and released gas.
  • Scientists react the two substances under controlled conditions.

How to use it: react with something (The metal reacts with water.); react to form something (These substances react to form a new compound.)

Common phrases: react with oxygen, react with something, react to form

OPPOSING FORCEC2

An object pushes back against another object that applies a force to it.

  • The wall reacts against the force of the ladder.
  • Each body reacts on the other with an equal force.
  • The support reacted against the downward load.

How to use it: react against something (The spring reacts against the applied force.); react on something (The floor reacts on the box with an upward force.)

Similar words: push back

Common phrases: react against something, react on something

noun

SOCIAL EMOJIC1

An emoji added to an online post to show how you feel about it.

  • I left a sad react on her post.
  • The video got hundreds of laughing reacts.
  • Why did you give my photo an angry react?

Similar words: reaction

Common phrases: a sad react, an angry react, a heart react

Questions about react

What does react mean?

If you hear or experience something, you do or feel something because of it.

What is react in other languages?

Türkçe: tepki vermek · Español: reaccionar · Français: réagir · Deutsch: reagieren · Italiano: reagire · 日本語: 反応する

How do you pronounce react?

It is pronounced /riˈækt/.

How do you use react in a sentence?

How did he react to the news? She reacted calmly when the alarm sounded.

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