interact
ihn-tuh-RAKT
Interact (verb) means to communicate or engage with someone, or to have an effect on each other. Example: “Visitors can interact with the exhibits by pressing the buttons.”
verb
1
To communicate or engage with someone, or to have an effect on each other.
"Visitors can interact with the exhibits by pressing the buttons."
"The way staff interact with each other during breaks can play an important role in the workplace."
"Children learn a lot by interacting with their peers."
"The two chemicals interact violently when combined."
How to use interact
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo act, engage, or communicate together, affecting each other in the process.
Common pairings
interact with
interact socially
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Word forms
- Plural
- interacts
- Third person singular
- interacts
- Past tense
- interacted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Visitors can _____ with the exhibits by pressing the buttons.
Etymology
Formed from "inter-" ("between, among") + "act."
Related words
Rhymes for interact
See all rhymes for interact →Frequently asked questions
What does “interact” mean?
The word “interact” means to communicate or engage with someone, or to have an effect on each other. In plain terms, to act, engage, or communicate together, affecting each other in the process.
How do you pronounce “interact”?
“Interact” is pronounced ihn-tuh-RAKT (/ˌɪn.tɚˈækt/ in IPA).
How do you use “interact” in a sentence?
Here is “interact” used in a sentence: “Children learn a lot by interacting with their peers.”
What part of speech is “interact”?
“Interact” is a verb.
Is “interact” a common word?
“Interact” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "interact" and "communicate"?
"Communicate" means to exchange information, while "interact" is broader, covering any two-way engagement or mutual effect — children playing, users clicking through an app, or chemicals reacting. If information passes between people, either verb fits; if the exchange is one-way, only "communicate" works, because interaction is mutual by definition.
Do you interact "with" someone or interact "to" someone?
The standard preposition is "with": you interact with people, systems, or substances. "Interact to" is incorrect, and when two things affect each other you can drop the preposition entirely: "The two drugs interact."
Is "interact together" correct?
It is generally redundant, because interacting already involves two or more parties acting on each other. "The students interact" or "the students interact with each other" says everything "interact together" does, so style guides recommend cutting "together."
Can things interact, or only people?
Anything that affects something else and is affected in return can interact: medicines interact with other drugs, readers interact with content, and weather systems interact with ocean currents. The verb covers mutual effects of every kind, which is why scientific and technical writing uses it so heavily.
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