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

• buck
• hand
• hand over
• pass
• transfer

Noun

• breadth
• distance
• expanse
• expansion
• extent
• field
• length
• plain
• sheet
• spread
• stretch
• waste

Example Sentences

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

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Salma Hayek is feeling pretty good about reaching a major milestone. —Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 18 May 2023

Butterflies also reached India, an isolated island at the time, despite the fact that it was surrounded by open sea. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 17 May 2023

Reuters could not immediately reach Li for comment and Weibo appears to have banned him from posting to his account there. —Reuters, NBC News, 17 May 2023

Negotiations picked up in recent weeks as the deadline approached, though no deal has been reached. —Emily Jacobs, Washington Examiner, 17 May 2023

Rung believes this suggests that PFAS could be reaching those areas from other parts of the country through air emissions. —Amanda Gokee, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023

Even if a deal is reached, the deadlock has created some uncertainty. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023

The battle may be reaching an equilibrium around hybrid work, where employees come into the office for part of the week. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 17 May 2023

If the two chains can’t reach an agreement, the case will move to a discovery period, where each company can make document requests and present evidence stating their case, followed by a trial and oral arguments. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 17 May 2023

Noun

Keep in Mind Although the longer handle gives it a farther reach, some users may find that a hindrance at times. —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023

Pita’s party has campaigned on a significant program of changes that would defang the military and lessen the clout and reach of the monarchy. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 17 May 2023

Their reach extends from the Los Angeles, where models like Elsa Hosk and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wear them repeatedly, to New York, where style experts contributing to BAZAAR's shopping coverage regularly list The Row's sandals among their recommendations. —Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 16 May 2023

Aside from that awkward reach across the aisle, The Album’s other attempts to dig into weightier matters have better results. —Maura Johnston, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2023

The current formula is based on U.S.-Canada subscriber numbers — with a 35% bonus meant to account for platforms’ international reach. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 May 2023

Avoiding risk China increasingly presents itself as a powerful state with global reach, but its approach to diplomacy remains cautious. —Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 May 2023

And this time, those depots and command centers might have to relocate all the way to Russian soil to escape the Storm Shadow’s reach. —Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 12 May 2023

Alex Ramos helped other boxers apply for their pensions, but his own is out of reach. —Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023

See More

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

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

See More

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

See More

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