react
1 of 1verb/riˈækt/
Forms:reacts,reacting,reacted,reacted
1
to act or behave in a particular way in response to something
A2transitive- The political leader had to react promptly to the evolving situation, addressing concerns and making policy adjustments.
- The athlete trained to react instantly to the coach's signals, making split-second decisions during the game.
- In a negotiation, it's crucial to react strategically to the other party's proposals.
- Drivers must be prepared to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions to avoid accidents on the road.
- The security team is trained to react decisively to potential threats.
Synonyms:
2
(physics) to be subject to physical or chemical change
- When sodium reacts with water, it produces sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas as byproducts.
- The iron in the nail reacts with oxygen in the air, forming rust over time.
- In a combustion reaction, hydrocarbons react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
- When acids react with bases, they form water and salts as part of a neutralization reaction.
- During cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen react to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy.
3
to show a hostile response to an opposing action
- The citizens decided to react against the proposed tax increase by organizing a protest.
- The workers' union announced plans to react against the unfair labor practices of the company.
- The public reacted strongly against the government's decision to cut funding for education.
- The opposition party urged citizens to react against the government's authoritarian measures.
Synonyms:
4
(physics) to cause a substance to change by interacting with other substances
transitive- In the experiment, sodium hydroxide will be reacted with hydrochloric acid to form a salt and water.
- To produce the desired compound, the organic solvents will be reacted with the reagents under controlled conditions.
- We reacted the metal with hydrochloric acid to observe the resulting chemical reaction.
- In the new process, we will react ammonia with oxygen to produce the desired compound.
- We have reacted the precursor compounds with specific reagents to yield the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
5
to have an adverse reaction to something particular such as food, smell, etc., particularly one that causes illness
- Certain individuals may react negatively to strong perfumes, experiencing headaches or respiratory discomfort.
- People with lactose intolerance may react after consuming dairy products.
- Those with pollen allergies may react during the spring months when the pollen count is high.
- Some individuals react to certain food additives, causing allergic reactions or intolerance symptoms.
- He always brings an epinephrine pen with him in case he accidentally ingests nuts and reacts to them.