Reaction — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /rē-ˈak-shən/ re·ac·tion

Meaning & Definition of Reaction

Reaction (noun)

  1. the act or process or an instance of reacting
  2. resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement; especially, tendency toward a former and usually outmoded political or social order or policy
  3. a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus; also, such a response expressed verbally

Reaction (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. action or behavior that is done in return to other action or behavior

    "we were startled by her extreme reaction to being jilted by her boyfriend"

    similar: answer, reply, response, take
    related: backlash, kickback, rebound, recoil, reflex, revulsion, rise, counterreaction, counterresponse
    near: action, behavior, cause, effect

Related Entry: Chain reaction (noun)

Chain reaction is a different word from Reaction. The synonyms below are for chain reaction, not for reaction.

  1. as in catenation, consecution

    similar: catena, catenation, chain, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train, file, line, queue, range, row, succession, belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle, continuum, gamut, gauntlet, scale, spectrum, flow, river, stream

Related Entry: Side effect (noun)

Side effect is a different word from Reaction. The synonyms below are for side effect, not for reaction.

  1. as in ramification, aftereffect

    similar: aftereffect, ramification, complexity, complicacy, complication, convolution, difficulty, intricacy, subtlety, technicality, annoyance, bitch, bother, headache, inconvenience, matter, trouble

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Reaction

The most common words with a similar meaning to Reaction:

answer, reply, response, take

Related Words for Reaction

backlash, kickback, rebound, recoil, reflex, revulsion, rise, counterreaction, counterresponse

Near Antonyms of Reaction

action, behavior, cause, effect

Origin & Etymology of Reaction

First known use: 1585

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Reaction

Words & Phrases Containing Reaction

reaction GIF, alarm reaction, chain reaction, cross-reaction, dark reaction, Feulgen reaction, Hill reaction, light reaction, Maillard reaction

Frequently Asked Questions about Reaction

What does "Reaction" mean?

"Reaction" means the act or process or an instance of reacting. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process or an instance of reacting.

What is another word for "Reaction"?

Other words for "Reaction" include answer, reply, response and take. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Reaction" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Reaction"?

There are 13 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Reaction". Common alternatives include answer, reply, response and take.

How do you use "Reaction" in a sentence?

Examples of "Reaction" in a sentence: "we were startled by her extreme reaction to being jilted by her boyfriend".

Is "Reaction" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Reaction" is a noun.

Is "Reaction" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Reaction" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Reaction"?

"Reaction" is pronounced /rē-ˈak-shən/ and divided into syllables as re·ac·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Reaction"?

First known use: 1585.