ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reach

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɹitʃ// UK //ɹˈiːtʃ// reach Archaic Dialect General-service Informal Slang

n. the distance you can stretch your arm to touch something. It also means the distance or area that a person, organization, or signal can influence.

n. the extent or range of something's application, influence, or physical capacity to touch. Often used to describe the geographical area covered by a service or the physical length of a person's arm.


SIMPLE

The top shelf is just out of my reach.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity expanded its reach to provide clean water to three more villages this year.

COMPLEX

While the local newspaper has a loyal following, it lacks the global reach required to attract major international advertisers.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic raikijan, from Proto-Germanic raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

Etymology 2

From Japanese 立直 (rīchi), from Chinese 立直 (lìzhí).

Usage

Often used in the singular with 'within' or 'out of'. When referring to physical distance, it is usually countable; when referring to abstract influence, it is often uncountable.

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference