reactre‧act /riˈækt/ ●●● S3 W3 AWL verb [intransitive] 
How did Wilson react to your idea? He reacted angrily to the suggestion that he had lied. She reacted very badly (=was very upset) when her parents split up. You have to react quickly to circumstances.react by doing something The government reacted by declaring all strikes illegal. → overreact2chemicals technical if a chemical substance reacts, it changes when it is mixed with another chemical substancereact with The calcium reacts with sulphur in the atmosphere.3prices if prices or financial markets react to something that happens, they increase or decrease in value because of itreact to Oil prices reacted sharply (=reacted a lot) to news of the crisis in the Middle East. The market reacted favourably to the announcement.4become ill to become ill when a chemical or drug goes into your body, or when you eat a particular kind of foodreact to Quite a lot of children react badly to antibiotics.COLLOCATIONSadverbsreact badly (=become annoyed, upset etc)· Do you react badly to criticism?react angrily/violently· The prime minister reacted angrily to these accusations.react strongly· Scott reacted strongly when he felt he was being treated unjustly.react quickly/swiftly· The goalkeeper had to react quickly.react differently· People react differently to stress.react positively/negatively (=with positive/negative emotions or opinions)· We want versatile people who react positively to change.react cautiously (=carefully, so that you avoid danger or risk)· The United States has reacted cautiously to the offer.react instinctively (=without thinking or needing to think)· She reacted instinctively and reached for her gun.react against something phrasal verb to show that you dislike someone else’s ideas or ways of doing something, by deliberately doing the opposite: He reacted strongly against his religious upbringing.
VERB TABLE
react
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | react |
| he, she, it | reacts | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | reacted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have reacted |
| he, she, it | has reacted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had reacted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will react |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have reacted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am reacting |
| he, she, it | is reacting | |
| you, we, they | are reacting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was reacting |
| you, we, they | were reacting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been reacting |
| he, she, it | has been reacting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been reacting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be reacting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been reacting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A shot was fired, and the police reacted by firing into the crowd.
- Emma is not behaving very reasonably nowadays. I think she's reacting against her teachers' strictness.
- How did Dad react when he found out Vicky was pregnant?
- How did she react when you told her the news?
- How did your parents react when you told them you were going to marry Jim?
- It's hard not to react badly when your kids are playing up.
- Many gays reacted with outrage at the tactic of "outing" senior public figures.
- Ned reacted angrily to Bill's comments.
- People reacted to the speech in different ways.
- The chairman reacted angrily to the report and said it would make it much harder to reach a deal.
- When children perform poorly at school, parents often react with anger.
- Cool foresight and a quick mind enabled him to react swiftly in an emergency.
- Foam began to spread through the air as the fire-fighting systems reacted automatically to the emergency.
- How will your best friend react?
- Investors reacted unfavorably to the announcement and pushed shares down as much as 3. 9 percent.
- Nobody reacts much when older men become fathers.
- Only two persons in the audience reacted to this sentence, but to them it was like being doused with ice-cold water.
- Suddenly, before the competition could react, Snapple was in stores all across the country.
- The authorities reacted swiftly with a smear counterattack.
Longman Language Activatorto react to something
to say or do something because of what another person has said or done, or because of something that has happened: · How did your parents react when you told them you were going to marry Jim?· It's hard not to react badly when your kids are playing up.react to: · People reacted to the speech in different ways.· The chairman reacted angrily to the report and said it would make it much harder to reach a deal.react against: · Emma is not behaving very reasonably nowadays. I think she's reacting against her teachers' strictness.react by doing something: · A shot was fired, and the police reacted by firing into the crowd.react with disappointment/laughter/violence etc: · When children perform poorly at school, parents often react with anger.· Many gays reacted with outrage at the tactic of "outing" senior public figures.
to react to something that someone has said to you, or something that someone has done to you or for you: · The more attention you pay him, the better he responds.respond with: · Rob's smile was irresistible, and she responded with a grin.respond to: · The children responded well to the day's activities.· The theatre has been slow to respond to the challenges presented by progressive drama.respond by doing something: · The demonstrators attacked and burned buildings and cars; the soldiers responded by opening fire.
to react to something with a particular attitude or with a particular action: · The news has been greeted angrily within Egyptian government circles.be greeted with something: · Donaldson's remarks were greeted with cautious enthusiasm.· The proposals were greeted with a mixture of skepticism and distrust.
to get a particular reaction, especially a negative one: · The proposals met with fierce opposition from women's groups and labour unions.· Any attempts to impose a solution would be quite likely to meet with even more violence.to be met with: · The US says any further attacks will be met with the full force of the US military.
to react too strongly to something that has happened, especially by becoming extremely angry, worried, or afraid: · Don't you think you're overreacting? I only said "hi". It's not as if we're having an affair!overreact to: · Some residents overreact to the problem of crime by just not going out at all.· The state has dramatically overreacted to the use of soft drugs.overreact with: · Overreacting with shock when a child uses a swear word is likely to make him use it again.
to react to someone in the same way as they treat you formal to react to someone's feelings or actions towards you by showing the same feelings towards them, doing the same thing for them etc --use this especially when the feelings or actions are good: · We asked them over for dinner, hoping they would reciprocate.reciprocate feelings/an invitation etc: · Although Miss Warton did not reciprocate John's feelings, she did nothing to discourage them.· My classmates would ask me over, but I never felt I could reciprocate the invitation.
if you smile back , hit someone back etc, you smile at someone, hit them etc, after they have done the same thing to you: · Carol yelled back, "If it's so easy, you come and have a go!''· If Jamie rings, tell him I'll call him back.· The man just sat there smiling back at me.
informal if someone who is being attacked or criticized gives as good as they get , they are just as violent or rude as the person who is attacking them: · Don't you worry about Tim. He may be small but he gives as good as he gets!· It was a tough interview, but I thought the President gave as good as he got.· At 87, Juran is still able to give as good as he gets.
what someone says or does when they react to something what someone says or does when they react to something: · My father was so surprised by this violent reaction that he fell silent.reaction to/against: · Maria's reaction to the birth of her sister was to demand more attention from her mother.initial/first reaction: · I was stunned by the news, and my initial reaction was anger.· Can you tell us about your first reactions to this news?gut reaction (=a strong reaction that you have, although you are not sure why): · I wanted to write something thoughtful, not just leap in with my gut reaction.knee-jerk reaction (=a reaction you have without thinking about it first): · Environmentalists have a knee-jerk reaction against any sort of development, however "green" it might be.
your reaction to something that someone has said to you, done to you, or asked you for: · The story has provoked a strong response from the Chinese.· "You've persuaded me," she laughed, amazed at her own response. response to: · Tina's outburst was a delayed response to her husband's behaviour the week before.get a response: · We've tried to include Susan in our social activities, but we get no response.in response to something (=as a way of responding): · In response to local demand, we will be opening this store from nine till seven on Sundays.
advice, criticism, praise etc that you give to someone, telling them how well they are working: · We are very encouraged by the feedback we've had from our shareholders.give somebody feedback/give feedback (to somebody): · Every Friday, Mr James would hand out the students' essays and give them some feedback.feedback on: · It is important to give employees regular feedback on their performance.positive/negative feedback: · I'm lucky to work for an employer who gives positive feedback on my work.
an angry or violent reaction by a group of people to the actions or decisions of others: backlash against: · Members of the Rifle and Pistol Club fear a public backlash against their sport after a recent armed raid in the village.· The attacks have sparked a bitter backlash against the revolutionary forces.backlash from: · a growing backlash from angry voters
when someone reacts much too strongly to something: · I'm not arguing in favor of cannabis. I'm just saying we should be careful of overreaction.· The appeal court judge described the sentence as a gross overreaction to the recent spate of bombing campaigns.
the ability to react quickly to be able to react quickly to moving objects, danger etc: · Alcohol slows a driver's reactions, making it harder to avoid an accident.· He was a natural boxer, with a cold temper, fast reactions and a killer instinct.
the natural ability to react quickly and well to dangers etc, without having to think about what you are doing: · Bernice moved to slap him, but with lightning reflexes, he grasped her arm.· City got only one goal, and owed everything to the extraordinarily quick reflexes of their goalkeeper.
to behave in a particular way the way someone behaves is the things that they do and say, and the effects these things have on other people: · How does Sam behave at school?behave towards: · William was behaving very strangely towards me.behave well/badly/unreasonably etc: · I'm not going to talk to him until he starts behaving reasonably.behave like: · Oh, be quiet! You're behaving like a two-year-old.behave as if: · The next time I saw him, Frank behaved as if nothing had happened.
to behave in a particular way, especially in a way that seems unusual, surprising, or annoying to other people: act like: · He has been accused of acting like a dictator.act as if: · She acts as if she owns the place and we're her servants.act strangely/strange/stupid etc: · Tina's been acting very strangely lately.· You're acting stupid and I don't want to talk to you anymore.
: be rude/helpful/silly etc to behave in a rude, helpful, silly etc way: · Don't be so rude!· The waiter was really friendly and helpful.· Stop being silly!· Why is she being so nice to us?
to behave in a particular way, especially in a situation where people will notice and judge the way you behave: · Public figures have a duty to conduct themselves responsibly, even in their private lives.· By the end of the course, you should be able to conduct yourself with confidence in any meeting.
to say or do something because of what another person has said or done, or because of something that has happened: · How did she react when you told her the news?react angrily/violently/calmly: · Ned reacted angrily to Bill's comments.
WORD SETSacetate, nounacid, nounacidic, adjectiveacidify, verbactive, adjectiveadditive, nounagent, nounalchemy, nounalcohol, nounalkali, nounalkaline, adjectiveamalgam, nounantioxidant, noun-ate, suffixatomic number, nounbase, nounbauxite, nounbeaker, nounbenzene, nounbiochemistry, nounbitumen, nounbleach, nounbond, nounbonding, nouncalcify, verbcarbohydrate, nouncarbonate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarbonize, verbcatalyst, nouncaustic, adjectivechain reaction, nounchemical, nounchemical, adjectivechemical reaction, nounchemist, nounchemistry, nounchlorinate, verbcitric acid, nouncombustion, nounconcentration, nouncondense, verbcontaminant, nouncontaminate, verbcontaminated, adjectivecorrode, verbcorrosion, nouncorrosive, adjectivecrucible, nouncrystal, nouncrystallize, verbcyanide, nounDDT, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdegrade, verbderive, verbdetoxification, noundextrose, noundioxin, noundispersion, noundissolve, verbdistill, verbeffervesce, verbeffervescent, adjectiveelectrolysis, nounelectrolyte, nounelectroplate, verbemulsify, verbemulsion, nounenzyme, nounexpand, verbfatty acid, nounferment, verbferment, nounflashback, nounflask, nounformaldehyde, nounformula, nounfructose, nounfungicide, nounfuse, verbgas, noungaseous, adjectiveglucose, noungranular, adjectivegraphite, nounhallucinogen, nounhelium, nounherbicide, nounhydrate, nouninert, adjectiveinsoluble, adjectiveinsulin, nounion, nounionize, verblactic acid, nounlimescale, nounlitmus, nounlitmus paper, nounlitmus test, nounmethane, nounmixture, nounmolecule, nounneon, nounnerve gas, nounneutralize, verbneutron, nounnitric acid, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounorganic chemistry, nounosmosis, nounoxidize, verboxyacetylene, nounoxygenate, verbozone, nounpart, nounpectin, nounpesticide, nounpestle, nounpetrochemical, nounpH, nounphotosynthesis, nounplasma, nounpolyunsaturated, adjectivepotash, nounprecipitate, verbprecipitate, nounprecipitation, nounproduct, nounprussic acid, nounquicklime, nounradioactive, adjectiveradioactivity, nounradiology, nounreact, verbreaction, nounreactive, adjectivereagent, nounresidue, nounretort, nounriboflavin, nounsalt, nounsaltpetre, nounsaturate, verbsaturated, adjectivesaturation, nounsaturation point, nounsemiconductor, nounsoft, adjectivesolid, nounsolution, nounsolvent, nounstability, nounstabilizer, nounstable, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, nounsucrose, nounsulphate, nounsulphide, nounsulphur, nounsulphur dioxide, nounsulphuric acid, nounsulphurous, adjectivesurface tension, nounsuspension, nounsynthesize, verbsynthetic, adjectivetannin, nountartaric acid, nounTNT, noununstable, adjectivevalence, nounvitamin, nounvolatile, adjectivevulcanize, verbwater softener, nounwater-soluble, adjectivewater vapour, nounwetting agent, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs The government reacted cautiously to the move.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
(=become annoyed, upset etc)· Do you react badly to criticism?
· The prime minister reacted angrily to these accusations.
· Scott reacted strongly when he felt he was being treated unjustly.
· The goalkeeper had to react quickly.
· People react differently to stress.
(=with positive/negative emotions or opinions)· We want versatile people who react positively to change.
(=carefully, so that you avoid danger or risk)· The United States has reacted cautiously to the offer.
(=without thinking or needing to think)· She reacted instinctively and reached for her gun.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The government reacted cautiously to the move.· Bergsson reacted angrily, pushing his head against Pearce's and then grabbing the controversial full-back by the throat.· The Usenet community reacted angrily, saying that sort of thing was banned by Usenet custom.· Farmers reacted angrily to the proposals for mass slaughter of sheep.· Does a father react angrily when his tired, overwhelmed twelve-month-old flails out and hits him on the nose?· But the Prison Officer's Association has reacted angrily.· But Powergen bosses have reacted angrily to the new council demands.· If you react angrily or aggressively, your child may do the same.· When Citrine revealed the proposal to the Area Board chairmen, however, they reacted angrily.
· But it reacted badly when he started on examples of government action to extend opportunity.· Some mares react badly and their reproductive cycles cease or are disrupted.· Chances were she would react badly.· Do you react badly to criticism at work?· They don't like it too hot in summer and they react badly to over-watering.· Bird lovers reacted badly to earlier attempts to control the birds by poisoning them and removing nests.· Others began to react badly to various chemicals at about the time they developed candidiasis.
· Even the same person reacts differently on different occasions, depending on how fit they are and on other circumstances at that time.· The letters upset them both, only they reacted differently.· Had they been given a more accurate picture of what was actually taking place, would they have reacted differently?· Private-sector representatives reacted differently but were hardly less bitter.· Most of our congregations contain a multiplicity of people who react differently to different kinds of musical expression.· Individuals who lost their faith reacted differently.· It takes time to react differently.
· Next time the phone rings or there is a knock on the door, just pause for a moment instead of reacting immediately.· When they are broken, react immediately but calmly.· A piston engine reacts immediately to power, just like a car.· Nelson Mandela, who was not in court, reacted immediately, insisting that his wife was innocent of any crime.· You react immediately and hit the pad with a perfectly timed technique.· These scouts need to be aware of new fashions as they happen so we can react immediately.· Nizan did not react immediately, however.· In addition, they often reacted immediately, while gastrointestinal symptoms were commonly manifested later.
· Not all employees are going to react negatively to a relocation abroad.· Are you starting to react negatively to a person or situation?· The bond market also reacted negatively to the budget impasse.· Their pollsters have warned that the public understandably reacts negatively when told health benefits may be slashed.· But the stock market did not react negatively to the news, taking its cue from the bond market.· When this happens, your fellow employees often avoid you or react negatively to your behaviour.
· Forth River Purification Board reacted positively yesterday to the reconsideration of the regional role.· Wall Street reacted positively to the earnings report.· Even my highly regrettable tendency to react positively whenever the fridge door is opened was proof against that.· Always both groups reacted positively to any change in the test group conditions in whatever direction.· Civil rights groups also reacted positively to the changes, but Sinn Fein seemed unimpressed.· Parents may need help and training in reacting positively when their child is eating.
· Get used to being grabbed and reacting quickly.· You need to be alert and react quickly.· Sometime genuinely strong potential acquirers will not enter into such a process because they can not react quickly.· But Powergen bosses have reacted quickly to the new council demands.· He also reacted quickly to save after both McLoughlin and Clarke had seen efforts cleared off the line by Houghton.· But private investors reacted quickly by buying equities in the small hours of yesterday morning.· Sunderland reacted quickly to the set-back, with club record singing Don Goodman calmly picking his spot to equalise a minute later.· The flow of adrenalin can help the mind to react quickly in a given situation.
· Critics of the reforms reacted sharply last night.
· He grabbed toys from other kids and reacted strongly to any sign of aggression from them.· There is no doubt that part of the Catholic community in Britain reacted strongly to the destruction and damage of Catholic churches.· Those with a particular political or religious upbringing may react strongly against that.· Shares in privatised companies reacted strongly to the possibility of a Tory-dominated hung Parliament.· More importantly, he had a metabolism which reacted strongly to crisis.
· The authorities reacted swiftly with a smear counterattack.· An investigation launched by Knowsley Borough Council found that staff had reacted swiftly and that procedures complied with current legislation.· Cool foresight and a quick mind enabled him to react swiftly in an emergency.· The police reacted swiftly and a man who broke through their cordon was brought down by a rugby tackle and arrested.· The Embassy reacted swiftly to the disclosure, which they regarded as an improper use of Mr Lader's name.· Pricing is a very flexible element in the marketing mix and enables firms to react swiftly to competitive behaviour. 20.
· Instead. these people only refer to farmers when there is news like a food scare to react to.· A number of these patients are very seriously ill and appear to react to almost every imaginable food and chemical.· It isn't the actual words you react to, but the different rhythm.· Quicker to say, quicker to react to.· This is an account of how I reacted to that very tall order.
· Small children are encouraged to be small tyrants, to react violently if thwarted.· For example, water is known to react violently with metallic sodium, another reducing medium utilized commercially.· But hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone don't react violently together unless a catalyst is added.· The drama erupted after a resident in the Middlesbrough hostel mixed two household substances, which reacted violently with each other.· Jason Tyler tossed pierced canisters of sodium, which reacts violently with water, into the bowls in two cubicles.· The regime reacted violently and furiously.· The shrimp growers are reacting violently.
NOUN· From the sound of it, your crush is reacting to these changes by getting involved with a more sexually experienced girl.· The way the document reacts to these changes depends on two self-explanatory word-processor modes - Insert and Overwrite.· Always both groups reacted positively to any change in the test group conditions in whatever direction.· Civil rights groups also reacted positively to the changes, but Sinn Fein seemed unimpressed.
· Uncertain how the children might react, I thought it would perhaps come in handy if I needed to defend myself.· We need to look at how a child reacts to and processes different sensations and motor patterns.· Because their bodies are still growing, children react more quickly to many of the things they eat.· Your goal is to help your child do more than react to her sensitivities with avoidance, anger, or controlling behavior.· How will your child react when you have another baby?· Reactivity Problems Attention also lags because of the way the child reacts to sensations.· How do young children react to that situation?· Through each sense, children not only react to the world, they also comprehend their world.
· So selection is the important basis for action: in making decisions, in choosing people, in reacting to events.· We react only to events, as indicated in a previous chapter.· They reacted to events, never initiating them, and this trait became an increasing liability as time passed.· Most doctors are starting to understand that different people react to events in their lives differently.· They concluded that people as a whole react to events and to social and economic changes in reasonable and predictable ways.· That is why we all react to events differently, although it is all reacting.· The conception about reacting mechanically to events is not a purely materialistic one, as it may seem at first sight.
· It is surprising that markets did not react sooner to this.· The bond market also reacted negatively to the budget impasse.· As they have often done, financial markets over-reacted to something that was going on in the real world.· But the stock market did not react negatively to the news, taking its cue from the bond market.· Few can have been surprised that the markets reacted by marking sterling down.· Last year, the shares traded in the 14p to 4p range as the market reacted to takeover rumours and profit warnings.
· The staff have reacted stoically to the news.· But the stock market did not react negatively to the news, taking its cue from the bond market.· In partisan terms, people reacted against television news, alleging antagonistic bias; but they reacted Very differently towards the press.· How do Jimmy and the guys react to this bad news?· Those who remained uninterested in politics reacted by avoiding the news during the campaign.
· Many people react adversely to gluten, present in wheat flour.· I love how people react when he walks into a restaurant.· So how did people react to these findings?· Arline: How people in Los Angeles react to every jury-trial verdict?· No two old people will react the same way, so no standard procedure can be recommended.· Most doctors are starting to understand that different people react to events in their lives differently.· There are enough angry and bitter people to react to any call to insurrection.· They concluded that people as a whole react to events and to social and economic changes in reasonable and predictable ways.
· He said they were reacting to public pressure, and that the majority of people did not support Sunday opening.· The president, like every other leader, reacts to pressure.
· Border has a history of reacting to situations before considering all the consequences.· Temperament can be described as the general consistency with which an individual reacts to certain situations.· Would you so react to the particular situation which confronts us now, if you were not applying the standard mechanically?· How would he react to a nonsensical situation such as this, and one which was completely outside his own control?· Corals and anemones are sensitive creatures and react to any stressful situation by closing down to avoid the cause of their stress.· How do young children react to that situation?· How would he react to his situation?· You may not choose to react to situations which damage your self-esteem in the same way as Jane.
· Foam began to spread through the air as the fire-fighting systems reacted automatically to the emergency.· Thus the eye exists in a body with a central nervous system, capable of reacting to information the eye provides.· We also worked out in the end a system whereby Brian would react to my jump rather than I react to his throw.· Managers of existing systems reacted to these proposals with truculent hostility.· His system reacted to contact with her in ways he had never experienced with Maud, or with any other woman.
· Whichever way you react to Rottweilers, you will lose.· Then he could think of a way to react that would help him get what he wanted without getting him into trouble.· We each have our own highly individual ways of reacting to the stresses of life and of maintaining our inner harmony.· What seemed to have been most important was the way the workers reacted to the changes-their attitude.· This responsiveness to body language also affects the way horses react to humans.· This now appears to be one way the brain reacts to caffeine.· I know, because of the way he reacts to seeing Salvo and me happy with our new families.· He remembered the way Fontaine had reacted to him and the commitments they had made at the diner.
· People react in various ways to the news that they have cancer.· Temperament and Activity People react in temperamentally different ways to the challenges posed by change.· Different people reacted in different ways.
VERB· How had he expected her to react to his betrayal - with laughter, perhaps, or nonchalance?· If we choose to perceive some one in a negative light, we expect and react to their negative behaviors.· It was how he would have expected Frankie to react.· But, briefly, therapists must expect themselves to react.· Maybe we can now expect the Government to react with some form of moratorium, at least until after April 9.· However, the skin does tend to become more sensitive when you're expecting and may react adversely to certain products.
· She looked to see how Midnight was reacting.· It is fascinating to see how kids react and develop.· Give a confidence or two and see how positively they react.· He wanted to see how we would react when everything else was going wrong.· As if he'd said something he knew he shouldn't have, to see how I would react.· You might just slip in a reference to pipes or to attics in your next conversation. See how he reacts.· He watches the man closely to see how he reacts when he has to talk about this appalling figure.
WORD FAMILYnounreactionreactorreactionaryoverreactionadjectivereactionaryreactiveverbreactoverreact
1behaviour/feelings to behave in a particular way or show a particular emotion because of something that has happened or been saidreact to How did Wilson react to your idea? He reacted angrily to the suggestion that he had lied. She reacted very badly (=was very upset) when her parents split up. You have to react quickly to circumstances.react by doing something The government reacted by declaring all strikes illegal. → overreact2chemicals technical if a chemical substance reacts, it changes when it is mixed with another chemical substancereact with The calcium reacts with sulphur in the atmosphere.3prices if prices or financial markets react to something that happens, they increase or decrease in value because of itreact to Oil prices reacted sharply (=reacted a lot) to news of the crisis in the Middle East. The market reacted favourably to the announcement.4become ill to become ill when a chemical or drug goes into your body, or when you eat a particular kind of foodreact to Quite a lot of children react badly to antibiotics.COLLOCATIONSadverbsreact badly (=become annoyed, upset etc)· Do you react badly to criticism?react angrily/violently· The prime minister reacted angrily to these accusations.react strongly· Scott reacted strongly when he felt he was being treated unjustly.react quickly/swiftly· The goalkeeper had to react quickly.react differently· People react differently to stress.react positively/negatively (=with positive/negative emotions or opinions)· We want versatile people who react positively to change.react cautiously (=carefully, so that you avoid danger or risk)· The United States has reacted cautiously to the offer.react instinctively (=without thinking or needing to think)· She reacted instinctively and reached for her gun.react against something phrasal verb to show that you dislike someone else’s ideas or ways of doing something, by deliberately doing the opposite: He reacted strongly against his religious upbringing.