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Reaction Very Common

Origin: Latin suffix -tion

Reaction has 8 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others

"there was a chemical reaction of the lime with the ground water"

2

an idea evoked by some experience

"his reaction to the news was to start planning what to do"

3

a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent

"a bad reaction to the medicine"

"his responses have slowed with age"

4

(mechanics) the equal and opposite force that is produced when any force is applied to a body

"every action has an equal and opposite reaction"

5

a response that reveals a person's feelings or attitude

"he was pleased by the audience's reaction to his performance"

"John feared his mother's reaction when she saw the broken lamp"

6

extreme conservatism in political or social matters

"the forces of reaction carried the election"

7

doing something in opposition to another way of doing it that you don't like

"his style of painting was a reaction against cubism"

8

An action or statement in response to a stimulus or other event.

"Her sharp reaction to the sudden noise made everyone turn around to see what had happened."

In plain English: A reaction is what happens when something changes because of another thing.

"The crowd cheered in reaction to the winning goal."

Usage: Use reaction when describing an immediate physical, chemical, or emotional response to something specific, such as a drug's effect on the body or a crowd's behavior after news breaks. Avoid confusing it with "response," which often implies a more deliberate action taken after consideration rather than an instinctive occurrence.

Example Sentences
"The crowd cheered in reaction to the winning goal." noun
"Her reaction to the bad news was immediate shock and silence." noun
"The chemical reaction produced bubbles when we mixed the liquids together." noun
"His reaction time improved significantly after practicing with the game for weeks." noun
Related Terms
sneeze shock fire cry immunotarget fluorodesulfurization clapometer throw someone curve synartetic necrochemistry glyoxylate cycle electrochemical stereoinversion butadienylation formylation acetonylation sissyphobia melanoglossia gut feeling aminomethylation
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
chemical process idea bodily process force response conservatism resistance
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
addition reaction aldol reaction chain reaction chemical equilibrium decomposition displacement double decomposition elimination reaction endothermic reaction exothermic reaction hydrolysis neutralization oxidation oxidation-reduction photochemical reaction reduction saponification automatism rebound overreaction galvanic skin response immune response tropism taxis kinesis double take reflex learned reaction passage answer transfusion reaction backlash

Origin

The word "reaction" comes from the Latin reāctiō, which combined the prefix meaning "again" with a verb meaning "to act." It traveled into English through Middle French and Old French, eventually becoming part of modern vocabulary to describe an action taken in response to something else.

Rhyming Words
ion aion tion zion pion sion gion bion fion lion dion cion rion orion obion axion deion trion diion arion
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