What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
react
Example
She reacted angrily when she heard the news. [reacted: past tense]
Example
The medicine caused him to react badly. [react: verb]
respond
Example
He responded to the email promptly. [responded: past tense]
Example
I always respond politely to criticism. [respond: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Respond is more commonly used than react in everyday language. Respond is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while react is less common and often implies a strong emotional response.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between react and respond?
While react is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, respond is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
