Word
unreachable
Phoneticsun·reach·able
US/ənˈɹitʃəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnɹˈiːtʃəbəl/
Definition
adj. not able to be reached, contacted, or gotten to. You use it when a person does not answer, or a place or goal is too far or blocked.
adj. incapable of being reached, contacted, or achieved, whether physically, by communication, or as an abstract goal or standard.
Examples
“Her phone is off, so she is unreachable right now.”
“The mountain village becomes unreachable by road after heavy snow blocks the only pass.”
“After the storm cut power and phone lines, the coastal town felt strangely unreachable, as if it had slipped outside the modern world.”
Examples
simple
“Her phone is off, so she is unreachable right now.”
contextual
“The mountain village becomes unreachable by road after heavy snow blocks the only pass.”
complex
“After the storm cut power and phone lines, the coastal town felt strangely unreachable, as if it had slipped outside the modern world.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unreachable” in context.
Verb
01. become unreachable
“The hikers became unreachable when they entered the deep valley.”
verb + adj
02. prove unreachable
“The championship proved unreachable for the team this season.”
verb + adj
03. remain unreachable
“The pilot remained unreachable throughout the emergency landing.”
verb + adj
04. render unreachable
“The flood rendered several villages unreachable for a week.”
verb + adj
05. unreachable by car
“The old monastery is unreachable by car in winter.”
adj + prep + noun
Adjective
06. completely unreachable
“His phone was off, so he was completely unreachable all evening.”
adv + adj
07. practically unreachable
“The remote beach is practically unreachable without a boat.”
adv + adj
08. be unreachable for days
“After the storm, whole towns were unreachable for days.”
09. be unreachable on foot
“The lake is unreachable on foot when the river floods.”
10. feel completely unreachable
“Living abroad, she sometimes felt completely unreachable.”
11. remain unreachable by phone
“The doctor remained unreachable by phone during the operation.”
12. set an unreachable goal
“Don't set an unreachable goal; start with small, clear steps.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'be' or 'become'; pairs with 'by' to show means, as in 'unreachable by phone'.
Real-World Examples
“As the match neared its conclusion, Shelton made a remarkable effort to reach a seemingly unreachable shot, crashing into an advertising board as Sonego capitalized on the opportunity to win the point.” “Hundreds of people were still missing or unreachable as several areas were inaccessible due to high water levels while communication in some places was still down.” “The group's dark web site was unreachable when Reuters tried to visit it on Sunday, but on Saturday it displayed the words, "Domain Seized By ShinyHunters," according to a screenshot preserved by cybercrime research platform eCrime.ch.” “Facebook didn’t, although the Kremlin soon picked up that baton, throttling both Facebook and Twitter so badly they are effectively unreachable on the Russian internet.” Etymology
From un- + reach + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unreachable