interact
/ˌɪntərˈækt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪntərˈækt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-tər-ˈakt/ (ame, mw)
interact — verb
- interactpresent simple I / you / we / they
- interactshe / she / it
- interactedpast simple
- interacting-ing form
1. to talk, play, or work together with someone, sharing words, actions, or feeling
to talk, play, or work together with someone, sharing words, actions, or feelings so that both sides are involved and affected.
Ziad finds it hard to interact with new classmates because he is very shy.
interact + with + person (intransitive)
The children at the summer camp interacted through games and songs all afternoon.
interact through + activity (manner)
In her new job, Talia interacts with customers from over fifteen different countries.
Teachers say the best way for babies to learn is to interact with their parents and carers every day.
- communicate
broader; can be one-way (a speech) or two-way; 'interact' always implies back-and-forth
- engage
more formal, often used in professional or academic contexts
- socialize
limited to informal, fun contexts like parties or gatherings
文法句型
interact + with + noun phrase (person or group)
用法筆記
Interact always needs the preposition 'with' when the other person or group is mentioned. It never takes a direct object. Distinguish from sense 2, where the interaction is with digital content rather than with people face to face.
常見錯誤
2. when you react to digital content on a website or app — for example, by writing
when you react to digital content on a website or app — for example, by writing a comment, tapping a 'like' button, or sharing a post with your friends.
Quan likes to interact with his favourite musicians by leaving comments on their videos.
interact with + person + by + gerund (manner)
The more viewers interact with a post on social media, the more people see it.
correlative structure: the more… the more…
Eve spent the afternoon interacting with old photos her friends had shared on a family group.
Dozens of users interacted with Sayaka's online poll within the first hour.
- engage with
slightly more formal; common in social-media marketing
- respond to
more specific — implies a direct reply rather than just viewing
- ignore
to see content but not click, like, or comment
- scroll past
colloquial; to keep moving without stopping to engage
文法句型
interact + with + noun phrase (digital content or platform)
用法筆記
The thing being interacted with is always digital content (a post, video, comment) or a platform (website, app). Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply a personal relationship — just an action on a screen.
常見錯誤
3. when two or more things such as chemicals, machines, or natural systems influenc
when two or more things such as chemicals, machines, or natural systems influence one another's behaviour or state.
When you mix baking soda and vinegar, the two substances interact and create bubbles.
interact + and + result (cause-and-effect)
The doctor explained how certain medicines interact with each other inside the body.
interact with each other (reciprocal structure)
In a healthy forest, the plants, animals, and soil all interact to keep the environment balanced.
Software and hardware must interact correctly for the computer to run without errors.
- combine
implies the things mix or join, not just affect each other
- react
stronger and more specific — common in chemistry (chemical reaction)
- work together
informal; suggests cooperation rather than neutral mutual effect
- cancel out
when two forces or effects stop each other
文法句型
interact + with + noun phrase (substance, system, or force)
用法筆記
This sense is most common in science, technology, and medicine. The subjects are not people but substances, forces, or systems. Unlike sense 1 and 2, the interaction can be invisible and automatic — it does not require intention or awareness.