reacted; reacting; reacts
1
: to exert a reciprocal or counteracting force or influence
—often used with on or upon
2
: to change in response to a stimulus
3
: to act in opposition to a force or influence
—usually used with against
4
: to move or tend in a reverse direction
5
: to undergo chemical reaction
: to cause to react
Examples of react in a Sentence
When I told her what happened, she reacted with anger.
I didn't expect him to react that way.
The firefighters reacted quickly when they heard the alarm.
He reacted badly to the drug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bowen Yang reacts to Aimee Lou Wood's 'SNL' criticism.
—
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Guglielmo Mangiapane | Reuters 'A man of the people': World leaders react to the death of Pope Francis
Tributes and condolences poured in from around the world following news of the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
The market on Monday was reacting negatively to Trump’s pressure on Fed Chair Powell and the lack of a trade deal announcement after the Trump administration met with officials from Japan last week, Stovall said.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
President Trump's tariff plan has triggered a global market selloff and set off a cascade of retaliatory measures from major trading partners, with stock exchanges from Tokyo to Frankfurt posting losses as investors react to the prospect of escalating trade wars.
—Jeremy Savory, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for react
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Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Guglielmo Mangiapane | Reuters 'A man of the people': World leaders react to the death of Pope Francis
Tributes and condolences poured in from around the world following news of the death of Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
The market on Monday was reacting negatively to Trump’s pressure on Fed Chair Powell and the lack of a trade deal announcement after the Trump administration met with officials from Japan last week, Stovall said.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
President Trump's tariff plan has triggered a global market selloff and set off a cascade of retaliatory measures from major trading partners, with stock exchanges from Tokyo to Frankfurt posting losses as investors react to the prospect of escalating trade wars.
—Jeremy Savory, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for react
Cite this Entry
“React.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/react. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
react
verb
re·act
rē-ˈakt 
1
: to act or behave in response (as to stimulation or an influence)
the colonists reacted to the tax by boycotting tea
2
: to oppose a force or influence
—usually used with against
reacted against their unfair treatment
3
: to go through or cause to go through a chemical reaction
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