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reaction

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ɹiˈækʃən// UK //ɹɪˈækʃən// re·ac·tion General-service

n. something you say, do, or feel because of something else that happened. It can also be a chemical change when two substances are mixed together.

n. a response to a stimulus, event, or situation; in chemistry, the process where substances interact to undergo chemical change.


SIMPLE

His reaction to the news was a big smile.

CONTEXTUAL

The government's sudden policy change caused a strong negative reaction from the public and local business owners.

COMPLEX

While the initial chemical reaction produced a significant amount of heat, the secondary phase required a catalyst to ensure the compound remained stable at room temperature.

Synonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English reaccion, from Old French reaction, from Latin reāctiō, from the verb reagō, from re- (“again”) + agō (“to act”); more at re-, action; equivalent to react + -ion.

Usage

Countable when referring to a specific response or chemical event; uncountable when referring to the general process of reacting.

Pitfall

What was your reaction about the movie?What was your reaction to the movie?The noun reaction typically takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'about' when describing a response to something.

Idioms2 entries

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