ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reacts

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ɹiˈækts// UK //ɹɪˈækts// re·acts

v. to act or change in response to something that happens. You use this when someone shows a feeling or when a substance changes because of another substance.

v. to behave or change in a particular way as a direct result of an external stimulus or event. Often describes chemical transformations or human emotional responses.


SIMPLE

He reacts quickly when he hears a loud noise.

CONTEXTUAL

The stock market usually reacts poorly to news of rising interest rates or political instability.

COMPLEX

When the metal reacts with the acidic solution, it releases hydrogen gas and produces a significant amount of heat.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is intransitive and typically takes the preposition 'to' before the stimulus.

Pitfall

he reacts the newshe reacts to the newsReact is intransitive and requires the preposition 'to' before an object.

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