- 1 [intransitive] react (to something) (by doing something) to change or behave in a particular way as a result of or in response to something Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. I nudged her but she didn't react. You never know how he is going to react. The market reacted by falling a further two points. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbstrongly, favourably/favorably, positively, … verb + reacttend to, be slow to, not know how to, … prepositionagainst, by, to, … See full entry
- 2 [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to become ill/sick after eating, breathing, etc. a particular substance People can react badly to certain food additives. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbstrongly, favourably/favorably, positively, … verb + reacttend to, be slow to, not know how to, … prepositionagainst, by, to, … See full entry See related entries: Being ill
- 3 [intransitive] react (with something) | react (together) (chemistry) (of substances) to experience a chemical change when coming into contact with another substance Iron reacts with water and air to produce rust. When an acid and an alkali react together the result is a salt and water. Wordfinderchemistryacid, catalyst, chemistry, compound, formula, molecule, pH, react, solution, valency Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbstrongly, favourably/favorably, positively, … verb + reacttend to, be slow to, not know how to, … prepositionagainst, by, to, … See full entry See related entries: Molecules and matter Word Originmid 17th cent.: from re- (expressing intensive force or reversal) + act, originally suggested by medieval Latin react- ‘done again’, from the verb reagere.Extra examples Her family reacted with horror when she told them. His insensitive remarks hurt and she reacted accordingly. Many young people react against traditional values. Silicon reacts chemically like carbon. The committee reacted positively to the proposals. The government reacted by increasing taxation. The industry has been slow to react to these breakthroughs in technology. The police must be able to react swiftly in an emergency. people who react positively to change I nudged her but she didn’t react. Phrasal Verbsreact against
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BrE BrE//riˈækt//; NAmE NAmE//riˈækt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they react BrE BrE//riˈækt//; NAmE NAmE//riˈækt//
he / she / it reacts BrE BrE//riˈækts//; NAmE NAmE//riˈækts//
past simple reacted BrE BrE//riˈæktɪd//; NAmE NAmE//riˈæktɪd//
past participle reacted BrE BrE//riˈæktɪd//; NAmE NAmE//riˈæktɪd//
-ing form reacting BrE BrE//riˈæktɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//riˈæktɪŋ//
Molecules and matter, Being illCheck pronunciation: react
