REACT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does react mean? 

• REACT (verb)
  The verb REACT has 3 senses:

1. show a response or a reaction to something

2. act against or in opposition to

3. undergo a chemical reaction; react with another substance under certain conditions

  Familiarity information: REACT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REACT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they react    ... he / she / it reacts   
Past simple: reacted   
Past participle: reacted   
-ing form: reacting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Show a response or a reaction to something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

react; respond

Hypernyms (to "react" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "react"):

treat (regard or consider in a specific way)

refuse; reject; resist (resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ)

acknowledge; notice (express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with)

marvel; wonder (be amazed at)

accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)

decline; refuse (show unwillingness towards)

answer (respond to a signal)

accept (react favorably to; consider right and proper)

explode (show a violent emotional reaction)

greet (react to in a certain way)

respond (respond favorably or as hoped)

stool (react to a decoy, of wildfowl)

accept (be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal)

answer (react to a stimulus or command)

overreact (show an exaggerated response to something)

flip; flip out (react in an excited, delighted, or surprised way)

bristle (react in an offended or angry manner)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Something ----s to somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

reaction (a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent)

reaction (a response that reveals a person's feelings or attitude)

reactive (reacting to a stimulus)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act against or in opposition to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

oppose; react

Context example:

She reacts negatively to everything I say

Hypernyms (to "react" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "react"):

act on; follow up on; pursue (carry further or advance)

buck; go against (resist)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Undergo a chemical reaction; react with another substance under certain conditions

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The hydrogen and the oxygen react

Hypernyms (to "react" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "react"):

bromate; brominate (react with bromine)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

reactant (a chemical substance that is present at the start of a chemical reaction)

reaction ((chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others)

reactive (participating readily in reactions)

 Context examples 

Scientists suspect the heat might have caused minerals to react with any organic matter, explaining why we have not yet found traces of life.

(Red Planet May Have Harbored Life in Past, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The electrodes measure nerve signals in the brain when it reacts to the sounds.

(ABR test, NCI Dictionary)

To study the stratosphere of WASP-121b, scientists analyzed how different molecules in the atmosphere react to particular wavelengths of light, using Hubble's capabilities for spectroscopy.

(Hubble Detects Exoplanet with Glowing Water Atmosphere, NASA)

Astronomers made the unexpected discovery while using Chandra to observe how Sgr A* would react to a nearby cloud of gas known as G2.

(NASA’s Chandra Detects Record-Breaking Outburst from Milky Way’s Black Hole, NASA)

However, additional studies are needed to see how soils reacted to the PETM in other parts of the world, the researchers said.

(Clues found on how soils may respond to climate change, National Science Foundation)

Osteoblasts and stromal cells may react to bone metastases by producing M-CSF and its osteoclastogenic cofactor RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand).

(Anti-M-CSF Monoclonal Antibody MCS110, NCI Thesaurus)

A technique used to help people change the way they react to certain triggers in the environment that cause a negative reaction.

(Behavior modification, NCI Dictionary)

When you grieve, it's part of the normal process of reacting to a loss.

(Bereavement, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

An autoantibody that reacts with cardiolipin.

(Anticardiolipin Antibody, NCI Thesaurus)

However, a highly reactive intermediate and more toxic metabolite than the parent molecule may be produced that can potentially react with and damage DNA.

(Phase I Enzymes Inhibitor, NCI Thesaurus)