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Prepositions after verbs

React and its prepositions

React to is the standard pattern for responses. Other prepositions describe the manner or result of the reaction.

Quick answer

Most common preposition after react

Use react to for the thing that causes a response. React with can describe a type of response or a chemical process. React by introduces the action taken as a response. React in is limited to expressions such as react in surprise. React like is informal and compares behaviour.

She reacted to the news calmly.
The metal reacts with water.
He reacted by leaving the room.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
react to + stimulus

Responding to something

To introduces the event, statement, or situation causing the reaction.

Investors reacted to the announcement immediately.
Children reacted to the joke with laughter.
2
react with + response/substance

Showing the form of a reaction

With may introduce an emotional response or another substance in chemistry.

She reacted with surprise.
Hydrogen reacts with oxygen.
3
react by + action

Explaining how someone responded

By introduces the action taken as the response.

They reacted by increasing security.
He reacted by apologising publicly.
4
react in + manner

Describing the manner of reaction

In appears in some set expressions describing emotional manner.

She reacted in disbelief.
They reacted in silence.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
react to
How did she react to the criticism?
Standard pattern for the cause of a reaction.
react with
The audience reacted with applause.
Shows the form or substance of the reaction.
react in
He reacted in anger.
Used in some expressions describing emotional manner.
react by
The company reacted by cutting prices.
Shows the action taken in response.
react like
He reacted like a professional.
Informal comparison of behaviour rather than a fixed complement.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using like instead of to

Use to for the thing causing the reaction.

✕ She reacted like the news badly. ✓ She reacted to the news badly.

Confusing with and by

With introduces the type of reaction; by introduces the action taken.

✕ They reacted with cancelling the event. ✓ They reacted by cancelling the event.

Overusing in after react

In works only in limited expressions describing manner.

✕ He reacted in the comment. ✓ He reacted to the comment.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The market reacted ___ the policy change.
2. She reacted ___ laughter.
3. They reacted ___ hiring more staff.

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Frequently asked questions

Is react to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to introduce the thing causing a reaction.

Can react with be used outside chemistry?

Yes. It can describe emotional or behavioural responses, such as react with anger.

Is react like formal English?

It is more informal and usually compares behaviour to something else.

radiate-from-into-around-to, with "raise in" or "raise by"? rake in, through, across, at or over? rally in, around, to, behind or on? "rape by" or "rape in"? ratify by, in, on, according or as? ravage by, from, on, through or with? rave about, at, from, to or before? reach for, by, at, to or into? read about, in, on, through or for? "realize in", "realize at" or "realize by"? reappear in, on, with, at or after?

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