Definition of reach
transitive verb
2a : to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object couldn't reach the appleb : to pick up and draw toward one : takec (1) : to extend to the shadow reached the wall (2) : to get up to or as far as : come to your letter reached me yesterday his voice reached the last rows they hoped to reach an agreementd (1) : encompass (2) : to make an impression on (3) : to communicate with
3 : to hand over : pass
intransitive verb
1a : to make a stretch with or as if with one's handb : to strain after something
2a : project, extend his land reaches to the riverb : to arrive at or come to something as far as the eye could reach
3 : to sail on a reach
reacher
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of reach in a Sentence
She couldn't reach the apple. She was too short.
He couldn't reach the apple, even with a stick.
She can't reach that far.
We reached California after driving for two days.
Their land reaches the river.
Their land reaches to the river.
The phone cord doesn't reach.
Recent Examples of reach from the Web
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China retaliated by closing a nearby mountain pass that Indian pilgrims use to reach Mount Kailash, a sacred Hindu and Buddhist site in Tibet.
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The Hammond Police Department was investigating the shooting, but officials from the department weren't immediately able to be reached for comment.
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The statement said investigators had made several unsuccessful attempts to reach a 30-year-old man who was punched in the nose Sunday night.
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The band's latest album — One More Light, released May 19 — became its sixth to reach the No.
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Stanton reached 30 homers in a season for the fourth time in his career and is on pace to shatter his career-high mark of 37.
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The commissioners will hear arguments before deliberating off-camera to reach a decision, according to the board's website.
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Hundreds in Boise on Saturday rallied at the statehouse, marching across Downtown to reach the Anne Frank Memorial in part of a demonstration against the Senate health care bill.
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In documents obtained by BuzzFeed, Alfred Angelo's bankruptcy statement names Patricia Redmond as the presiding attorney, and can be reached at 305-789-3553.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of reach
Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣcan; akin to Old High German reichen to reach, Lithuanian raižytis to stretch oneself
reach
Definition of reach
1 : a continuous stretch or expanse; especially : a straight portion of a stream or river
2a (1) : the action or an act of reaching (2) : an individual part of a progression or journeyb (1) : a reachable distance within reach (2) : ability to reach had a long reachc : an extent or range especially of knowledge or comprehension
3 : a bearing shaft or coupling pole; especially : the rod joining the hind axle to the forward bolster of a wagon
4 : the tack sailed by a ship with the wind coming just forward of the beam or with the wind directly abeam or abaft the beam
5 : echelon, level —usually used in plural the upper reaches of academia
Examples of reach in a Sentence
The ball was just out of reach.
Their goal is out of reach.
The country's farthest reaches had not been explored.
the upper reaches of the business
the upper reaches of the river
Recent Examples of reach from the Web
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But the price tag — more than $100 in some suburban communities — has put it increasingly out of reach for many families.
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Indoor dining chairs, Wishbone by Hans Wegner—Design Within Reach; dwr.com.
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High costs have left housing in Torrance out of reach for Azucena Gutierrez and other workers in the city.
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David Ely, San Diego State University NO: Creative mortgage products do not address the fundamental problem -- that of a shortage of affordable housing in many U.S. cities and prices out of reach for many first-time home buyers.
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Reach Reporter Thomas Novelly at 502-582-4465 or by email at tnovelly@courier-journal.com.
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Their reach online often means the attacker will have visited their sites or forums, allowing the groups to claim even loners as their own.
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Amazon, meanwhile, has been expanding its reach in goods, services, and entertainment.
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The 2017 edition was a grab — but not a reach — for an impact player.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of reach
14th century
REACH Defined for English Language Learners
reach
playDefinition of reach for English Language Learners
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: to be able to touch, pick up, or grab (something) by moving or stretching
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: to move or stretch (your hand, arm, etc.) when you are trying to touch or grab something
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: to arrive at (a place that you have been traveling to)
reach
Definition of reach for English Language Learners
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: the distance that you can stretch your arm to touch, pick up, or grab something
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: the ability or power of someone or something to do, achieve, or control something
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reaches : the parts of an area that are a long way from the center
REACH Defined for Kids
Definition of reach for Students
reached
;reaching
1 : to extend the arm far enough to touch or grab I can't reach the top shelf.
2 : to arrive at : come We should reach the border before noon.
3 : to extend or stretch to Their land reaches the river.
4 : to communicate with I tried to reach you by phone.
5 : to grow, develop, or increase The temperature reached a record high.
Definition of reach for Students
1 : the distance within which something can be touched or grabbed Keep matches out of the reach of children.
2 : the act of stretching especially to take hold of something Make a reach for my hand.
3 : the probability that something can be achieved Success is within reach.
4 : an unbroken stretch (as of a river)
5 : ability to stretch (as an arm) so as to touch something She has a long reach.
Law Dictionary
reach
Legal Definition of reach
1 : to extend application to
2 : to obtain an interest in or possession of unable to reach all the assets of the debtor
3a : to arrive at and consider the justices did not reach that issue b : to amount to did not reach a due process violation
reach
nounreachable
adjectiveLearn More about reach
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See words that rhyme with reach Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reach Spanish Central: Translation of reach Nglish: Translation of reach for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reach for Arabic speakers
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