reach
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
reaches;
reached;
reaching
reaches;
reached;
reaching
Britannica Dictionary definition of REACH
1
a
:
to be able to touch, pick up, or grab (something) by moving or stretching
[+ object]
-
She couldn't reach the apple. She was too short.
-
He couldn't reach the apple, even with a stick.
-
Can you reach me that pencil? = Can you reach that pencil for me? [=can you pick up that pencil and give it to me?]
[no object]
-
It's no good. I can't reach. [=I can't touch what I'm trying to touch]
b
:
to move or stretch (your hand, arm, etc.) when you are trying to touch or grab something
— usually + out, into, up, etc.
[+ object]
— + out, into, up, etc.
-
I reached my hand out (to her). = I reached out my hand (to her).
-
She reached her hand into her purse to get her wallet.
[no object]
-
She can't reach that far.
-
I reached up to pull the cord.
-
She reached into her purse.
-
He was reaching out to grab the railing when he fell.
2
[+ object]
:
to arrive at (a place that you have been traveling to)
— often used figuratively
-
We reached California after driving for two days.
-
The rescue team reached the stranded hikers this morning. [=the rescue team arrived this morning at the place where the hikers were stranded]
-
He reached [=got to] the play-offs but was eliminated in the first round.
3
— used to say that something is big or long enough to touch a certain place or point
[+ object]
-
Their land reaches the river.
-
The phone cord doesn't reach the table. = The phone cord isn't long enough to reach the table.
-
When she is sitting, her feet don't reach the ground. [=her feet don't touch the ground because her legs are short]
[no object]
-
Skirts must reach (down) below the knees.
-
Their land reaches to the river.
-
The phone cord doesn't reach.
4
[+ object]
a
:
to grow, develop, or increase to (a particular amount, size, etc.)
-
You are an adult when you reach [=become] 18.
-
The lottery is expected to reach $50 million.
-
The temperature could reach 100°F this afternoon.
-
These plants can reach (up to) 6 feet tall.
-
The winds could reach 60 mph.
b
:
to come to (a particular situation or condition)
-
The situation has reached [=gotten to, arrived at] a critical point.
-
We've reached a crisis in the negotiations.
c
:
to succeed in achieving (something) after making an effort over a period of time
-
The school has reached their goal of raising $10,000.
-
They are still trying to reach an agreement.
-
Have you reached a decision?
-
Has the jury reached a verdict?
5
not used in the progressive tenses
[+ object]
a
:
to be seen or heard by (someone)
-
Your letter reached me yesterday. [=I received your letter yesterday]
-
The news just reached us. [=we just heard the news]
-
The news won't reach his parents until tomorrow.
-
She left a message for her boss, but it didn't reach him.
b
:
to call or write to (someone)
:
to communicate with (someone)
-
I tried to reach [=contact] you by phone.
-
You can reach me by e-mail.
6
[+ object]
:
to get the attention or interest of (someone)
-
The company is using TV commercials to reach a bigger audience.
-
Her music reaches young people.
7
[+ object]
informal
:
to make (someone) understand or accept something
-
I don't think I'm reaching my son.
reach for
[phrasal verb]
1
reach for (someone or something)
:
to move your hand in order to get or touch (someone or something)
-
She reached for the salt and pepper.
-
He reached into his pocket for a dime.
-
She reached inside the bag for a pen.
-
The frog jumped as she reached for it.
reach out
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to make an effort to do something for other people
-
The church is reaching out to help the poor.
2
reach out to (someone)
a
:
to offer help or support to (someone)
-
The students are reaching out to the homeless.
-
a community reaching out to refugees
b
:
to try to get the attention and interest of (someone)
-
He's reaching out to young voters.
-
The island is only reachable by boat.
-
a reachable goal
-
She is always reachable by cell phone.
-
Some children are just not reachable. [=some children refuse to accept what their parents, teachers, etc., tell them]
2
reach
/ˈriːtʃ/
noun
plural
reaches
2
reach
/ˈriːtʃ/
noun
plural
reaches
Britannica Dictionary definition of REACH
1
:
the distance that you can stretch your arm to touch, pick up, or grab something
[singular]
-
The toy was within/in her reach. [=she was able to touch/reach the toy]
-
Keep chemicals out of the reach of [=away from] children.
-
The ball was just out of her reach. [=she was not quite able to touch or grab the ball]
-
The ball was beyond her reach. [=the ball was too far away for her to grab]
-
The boxer has a long reach. [=can reach a long way; has long arms]
[noncount]
-
He kept a dictionary within reach. [=nearby]
-
The child tried to grab anything in reach. [=anything that was close enough to touch]
-
The ball was just out of reach.
2
:
the ability or power of someone or something to do, achieve, or control something
[singular]
-
Victory was within their reach. [=they were close to victory]
-
Buying a new car is beyond our reach right now. [=we do not have enough money to buy a new car right now]
-
His illness was beyond the reach of medicine. [=medicine could not cure his illness]
[noncount]
-
Victory was within reach.
-
Their goal is out of reach.
3
reaches
[plural]
a
:
the parts of an area that are a long way from the center
— often + of
— sometimes used figuratively
-
The country's farthest reaches had not been explored.
-
the outer reaches of the universe
-
the further reaches of the valley
-
the northern reaches of the country
-
Scientists are still discovering the far reaches of the human mind.
b
:
levels of an organization
-
the upper/higher/lower reaches of the business
c
:
a straight part of a stream or river
-
the upper/lower reaches of the river
within (easy) reach of
:
close to (something)
-
Our house is within easy reach of the highway.
