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react (v.)

1640s, "to exert, as a thing acted upon, an opposite action upon the agent," from re- + act (v.). Chemical sense is from 1944. Related: Reacted; reacting (1610s). For sense development, see reaction. Meaning "perform again" (often re-act) is from 1650s.

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Definitions of react from WordNet

react (v.)
show a response or a reaction to something;
Synonyms: respond
react (v.)
act against or in opposition to;
She reacts negatively to everything I say
Synonyms: oppose
react (v.)
undergo a chemical reaction; react with another substance under certain conditions;
The hydrogen and the oxygen react
From wordnet.princeton.edu