reach

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

Synonyms of reach

• hand
• pass

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 on the Web

How to reclaim the lost art of apprenticeship and put in the work that’s needed to reach our highest potential. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Asia-Pacific markets also opened higher Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 reaching a new record. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 3 June 2026

The deal can also reach $150 million with incentives. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026

Efforts to reach a spokesman for Wasserman Schultz were not immediately successful. —Miami Herald, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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/realize their 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