react
Show a reflex
To react is to respond to a stimulus or situation.
A chemical reaction occurs when substances interact and transform.
People react to news, events, or provocations—sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes reflexively: How did she react when you told her?
In physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
To react against something is to oppose it, often as a backlash: Voters reacted against the incumbent party.
Innate behavioral tendency
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- automaticOperating without intervention
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
startle · blink · involuntary · impulse · twitch · innate · unconscious · snap
Give a reply
- replyVerbal or written answer
- answerSolution to query
- retortQuick, cutting reply
- counterFlat service surface
rebut · rejoin · comeback · retaliate · reciprocate · feedback · acknowledge · address
Agent enabling change
- reagentSubstance prompting chemical change
- compoundCombined into one
- bondBinding tie or connection
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
reduction · precipitate · equilibrium · kinetics · acid · base · neutralization · enzyme
instinct
Innate behavioral tendency
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- automaticOperating without intervention
- spontaneousArising without external cause
flinch · startle · blink · involuntary · impulse · twitch · innate · unconscious · snap · sudden
respond
Give a reply
counter · rebut · rejoin · comeback · retaliate · reciprocate · feedback · acknowledge · address · engage
catalyst
Agent enabling change
oxidation · reduction · precipitate · equilibrium · kinetics · acid · base · neutralization · enzyme · molecule
outburst
Sudden emotional release
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
alarm · panic · dismay · indignation · upset · offended · defensive · volatile · sensitive · temperamental
engage
Actively participate or connect
- interfaceShared connection point
- interplayReciprocal action between things
- reciprocateReturn in kind
responsive · adaptive · dynamic · stimulus · trigger · input · output · cascade · ripple · consequence
- action verbsrun, jump, chase, grab, climb
- performingperform, sing, play, dance, rehearse
- responsesresponse, answering, answer, reply, replying
- video callsvideo call, video chat, mute, video conferencing, Zoom
- geek outbinge watch, cosplay, nerd out, fan theory, deep dive
- online actionsposting, click, commenting, tap, replying
reactignore
Refuse to notice
disregard · tune out · overlook · nonreactive · shrug off
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- reaction speedSwiftness of response
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
- gut reactionImmediate unthinking feeling
- reactor coreCentral fission zone
- reaction timeSpeed of response
reaction, reacting, reacts, reacted, reactionary, overreact, reactive, reactivity, reactor