Word
counteract
Phoneticscoun·ter·act, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkaʊntɝˌækt/
UK/kˌaʊntəɹˈækt/
Definition
v. to do something that reduces or stops the bad effect of something else. You use this when you want to balance out a negative situation.
v. to act in opposition to something in order to neutralise its effect. Often implies the application of a corrective force or substance to mitigate a negative impact.
Examples
“Drinking water helps to counteract the effects of the heat.”
“The government introduced new tax breaks to counteract the recent decline in consumer spending.”
“To counteract the rising acidity of the soil, the farmers applied a layer of crushed limestone across the fields before the spring planting began.”
Examples
simple
“Drinking water helps to counteract the effects of the heat.”
contextual
“The government introduced new tax breaks to counteract the recent decline in consumer spending.”
complex
“To counteract the rising acidity of the soil, the farmers applied a layer of crushed limestone across the fields before the spring planting began.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“But less well-known is sulphur pollution, which forms vast numbers of tiny particles in the air and reflects sunlight back into space, partly counteracting the warming effect of carbon.” “An attractive force pulling the particles together is precisely counteracted by pressure produced by the fermions, keeping the droplet from collapsing.” Etymology
From counter- + act.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/counteract