French Conversation · Level 22
90 words
French word
réagir
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁeaʒiʁ/
Meaning
- verbreact
Example
Je réagis mal au stress.
I react badly to stress.
More examples
Il a réagi vite à la nouvelle.
He reacted quickly to the news.
Core concept
A stimulus strikes a person like a stone striking still water, sending an observable response outward.
Common phrases
réagir à
react to
réagir mal à
react poorly to
réagir positivement
react positively
Similar words
répondre: To give a verbal or practical answer to a question or request.
répliquer: To respond at once to a remark with an answer or counterargument.
se défendre: To protect oneself from criticism or attack by defending or arguing back.
Definition in French
éprouver ou montrer une réponse (émotionnelle, physique ou comportementale) à un stimulus, une situation ou une action d'autrui.
Word origin
French réagir comes from Latin reagere, built from re- meaning 'again' and agere meaning 'to drive or act'.
Usage tips
- The usual construction is réagir à followed by the stimulus, as in réagir mal au stress.