reach

1 of 2

verb

ˈrēch 

reached; reaching; reaches

transitive verb

1

a

: to stretch out : extend

b

: thrust

2

a

: to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object

couldn't reach the apple

b

: to pick up and draw toward one : take

c(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 agreement

d(1)

: encompass

(2)

: to make an impression on

(3)

: to communicate with

3

: to hand over : pass

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a stretch with or as if with one's hand

b

: to strain after something

2

a

: project, extend

his land reaches to the river

b

: to arrive at or come to something

as far as the eye could reach

3

: to sail on a reach

reachable

ˈrē-chə-bəl 

adjective

reacher noun

reach

2 of 2

noun

1

: a continuous stretch or expanse

especially : a straight portion of a stream or river

2

a(1)

: the action or an act of reaching

(2)

: an individual part of a progression or journey

b(1)

: a reachable distance

within reach

(2)

: ability to reach

had a long reach

c

: 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

Synonyms

Verb

• hand
• pass

Noun

• scope
• confines
• extent
• realm
• range

Examples of reach in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

One interesting information nugget from yesterday’s NDRC update on the 14th Five Year Plan was that China’s economy is expected to reach RMB 140 trillion, having grown by RMB 35 trillion during the period covered by the plan. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

The temperatures were expected to reach a high of 79 degrees, a departure for the typically overcast city, as Russia's Mirra Andreeva and Switzerland's Belinda Bencic faced off for the women's singles championships quarter finals. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 July 2025

Noun

Shapiro chronicles the couple’s reach, as Putnam stamped Amelia’s imprimatur onto (white) American womanhood, a prototype still among us: role model for younger women, professional and practical, efficient by day, elegant by night. —Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

The reach of the displays goes beyond just people seeing them from freeways and train stations, but to its many passengers. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣcan; akin to Old High German reichen to reach, Lithuanian raižytis to stretch oneself

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reach

• achieve/reach an understanding
• beyond someone's reach
• beyond the reach of
• hit/reach rock bottom
• in reach
• in someone's reach
• long reach
• out of reach
• out of someone's reach
• out of the reach of
• reach a compromise
• reach a conclusion
• reach a consensus
• reach for
• reach for the stars
• reach its conclusion
• reach-me-down
• reach new depths
• reach one's limit
• reach out
• reach out to (someone)
• reach/realize one's full potential
• reach/shoot for the moon
• within easy reach
• within (easy) reach of
• within reach
• within someone's reach

Rhymes for reach

• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech
• peach
• preach

Kids Definition

reach

1 of 2 verb

ˈrēch 

1

: to stretch out : extend

reached out her arm

2

a

: to touch or move to touch or take by sticking out a part of the body (as the hand) or something held in the hand

couldn't reach the apple, even standing on tiptoes

reached for the catsup

b

: to extend or stretch to

their land reaches the river

c

: to get up to or as far as : come to

your letter reached me yesterday

tried to reach an agreement

d

: to communicate with

tried to reach you by phone

3

: hand entry 2 sense 2, pass

please reach me the salt

reachable

ˈrē-chə-bəl 

adjective

reacher noun

reach

2 of 2 noun

1

: an unbroken stretch (as of a river)

2

a

: the action or an act of reaching

b

: the distance one can reach

kept it in easy reach

c

: ability to stretch so as to touch something

you have a long reach

d

: the ability to reach something as if by using the hands

a new car is beyond our reach right now

Legal Definition

reach

transitive verb

1

: to extend application to

2

: to obtain an interest in or possession of

unable to reach all the assets of the debtor

3

a

: to arrive at and consider

the justices did not reach that issue

b

: to amount to

did not reach a due process violation

reach noun

reachable adjective