/ɹiˈækʃənz/
Say it backReactions refers to responses or replies generated by a person or system in response to stimuli or events. It can describe emotional or physical responses, as well as chemical processes that occur when substances interact. In discussion, it often denotes how people respond to a situation, idea, or action, or how a chemical or social system changes in response to another agent.
"Her reactions to the news ranged from shock to relief."
"The chemical reaction produced a bright color change as soon as the catalyst was added."
"In social media, users’ reactions often drive further discussion and engagement."
You say ri-ˈæk-ʃənz. Stress falls on the second syllable after the prefix re-; the /æ/ in the stressed syllable is like the cat sound in 'cat', and the final -z is voiced. IPA: US/UK/AU riˈæk.ʃənz. Imagine starting with /r/ then a quick, crisp /i/ then the stressed /æ/ as in 'cat', followed by /k/ + /ʃən/ + /z/. You’ll hear a short, quick second syllable before the final z sound.
Common mistakes: misplacing primary stress (say re-AK-tions), and turning /æ/ into a schwa or a long /e/; dropping the final z or turning it into s. Correction: keep the /æ/ in the stressed syllable and ensure the /ʃ/ is clear before the /ənz/ cluster; finish with a voiced /z/ rather than /s/. Practice the sequence ri-ˈæk-ʃənz with clear vowel and a crisp /k/ before /ʃ/.
In US: strong /r/ with rhotic the /riˈæk.ʃənz/. UK: non-rhotic nucleus often; the /r/ at end fades before a schwa, but in connected speech you still hear a hint of /r/; vowel quality may be closer to /æ/ or a raised /aː/. AU: similar to US but with broader vowel quality and a more clipped /tʃ/ then a stronger /ənz/. Overall, the stress remains on the second syllable, but vowels and rhotics shift subtly.
Key challenges include the cluster /-æk.ʃənz/ after /ri-/ and the rapid transition between /k/ and /ʃ/ in connected speech. The /ɪ/ in /ri/ before the stressed syllable also tends to reduce in casual speech. The final /z/ can sound like /s/ if the preceding vowel is short or tense. Practice the whole sequence slowly, then speed up while maintaining the crisp /k/ before /ʃ/ and a voiced /z/ at the end.
The word’s stress profile is fixed on the second syllable, but the first syllable is not simply ‘re-’; it’s a quick pre-stressed portion that must be light but clear, preserving the /ri/ as a distinct onset before /æ/. The trick is maintaining the two open syllables in rapid speech: ri- and -æk. The subtle difference between /æ/ and a reduced vowel can be felt in careful speech, especially between careful academic pronunciation and everyday voice.
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Reaction derives from the Latin reactionem, from reagere ‘to do again, to act in return,’ itself from re- ‘again’ + agere ‘to do, drive.’ In English, the term appeared in the 17th century in physical/chemical contexts to describe the act of returning an action or effect. By the 18th–19th centuries, “reaction” expanded to social psychology and everyday language to denote a response or reply to a stimulus. The plural form “reactions” naturally follows the general English pluralization pattern for nouns ending in -on/-ion, shifting the emphasis to the final /s/ as in other lexical items that denote processes or states. Over time, the word has maintained a dual utility across scientific discourse and colloquial conversation, with modern usage spanning chemistry, psychology, sociology, and media commentary as a general term for responses or changes triggered by previous input.
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Words that rhyme with "reactions"
-cts sounds
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