reach
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to arrive at a place or a goal after traveling or making an effort.
v.to arrive at a destination or attain a specific state or goal through effort or progression.
Simple“We finally reached the hotel after driving for six hours in the rain.”
In context“The climbers finally reached the summit just as the sun began to set, marking the end of a grueling three-day ascent.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to move your arm or hand toward something so you can touch or grab it.
v.to extend a limb or an object held in the hand in order to touch, grasp, or strike something.
Simple“He reached for the top shelf to get the cereal box.”
In context“She reached across the table to grab the salt, nearly knocking over a glass of water in the process.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'for' when trying to grab something.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to get in touch with someone by phone, email, or letter.
v.to establish communication with someone, especially after several attempts.
Simple“You can reach me on my mobile phone if there is an emergency.”
In context“Despite several attempts to reach the manager by email, the client received no response regarding the refund.”
Synonymscontactget through to - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to arrive at a place to meet friends.
v.to arrive at a destination, specifically to join others or meet up.
Simple“I'll reach the party around nine, so wait for me there.”
In context“The group decided to reach the club early to avoid the long queues at the entrance.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in Multicultural London English (MLE) and some Caribbean dialects.
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.the distance you can stretch your arm to touch something.
n.the physical extent or distance that a person or thing can reach.
Simple“The cookies were kept on a high shelf, out of the child's reach.”
In context“The boxer had a significant advantage due to his long reach, allowing him to land punches from a safer distance.”
UsageCommonly used in the phrases 'within reach' or 'out of reach'.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the power or ability to influence people or events.
n.the extent of one's influence, power, or capacity to affect a situation.
Simple“The new law has a long reach and will affect many businesses.”
In context“The charity's reach has expanded globally, providing aid to millions of people in developing nations.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.something that is difficult to believe because it is an exaggeration.
n.an interpretation or statement that goes beyond the available evidence; a stretch of the truth.
Simple“Calling him a genius is a bit of a reach, but he is very smart.”
In context“To suggest that the minor policy change caused the entire economic collapse is quite a reach.”
Synonyms - 08 C2 Proficiency
n.a direction of sailing where the wind comes from the side of the boat.
n.a point of sail where the wind blows across the side of the vessel, between being close-hauled and running.
Simple“The boat picked up speed as we turned onto a broad reach.”
In context“The crew adjusted the sails for a beam reach, taking full advantage of the steady crosswind to maintain their lead.”
Teacher's tipThis is a specific nautical term used by sailors.
reach vs arrive — Arrive focuses on the moment of appearance at a destination and requires a preposition, while reach focuses on the effort or distance covered and takes a direct object.
reach vs arrive at/in — Reach is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, while arrive is intransitive and requires a preposition like at or in to connect to a destination.
Usage reach trade · reached an agreement · reach people
“In the UK, temperatures also reached 36C or higher in 40 locations across central and southern England.”
“Over the next 75 years, Mayo reached 11 more finals – and lost them all.”
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”).
From Japanese 立直 (rīchi), from Chinese 立直 (lìzhí).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.