reach

[ reech ]

verb (used with object)

1. to get to or get as far as in moving, going, traveling, etc.:

   The boat reached the shore.

   Synonyms: attain

2. to come to or arrive at in some course of progress, action, etc.:

   Your letter never reached me.

3. to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand, a pole, etc.:

   to reach a book on a high shelf.

4. to stretch or hold out; extend:

   reaching out a hand in greeting.

5. to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet:

   The bookcase reaches the ceiling.

6. to establish communication with:

   I called but couldn't reach you.

7. to amount to, as in the sum or total:

   The cost will reach millions.

8. to penetrate to:

   distant stars the eye cannot reach.

9. to succeed in striking or hitting, as with a weapon or missile:

   The artillery fire reached the shore.

10. to succeed in making contact with, influencing, impressing, interesting, convincing, etc.:

    a program that reached a large teenage audience.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a stretch, as with the hand or arm.
2. to become outstretched, as the hand or arm.
3. to make a movement or effort as if to touch or seize something:

   to reach for a weapon.

4. to extend in operation or effect:

   power that reaches throughout the land.

5. to stretch in space; extend in direction, length, distance, etc.:

   a coat reaching to the knee;

   a tower reaching to the skies.

6. to extend or continue in time.
7. to get or come to a specified place, person, condition, etc. (often followed by to ).
8. to amount (often followed by to ):

   sums reaching to a considerable total.

9. to penetrate:

   Fields of flowers extended as far as the eye could reach.

10. to assert or agree without certainty or sufficient evidence; infer hastily:

    I'd be reaching if I said I had the answer to your question.

11. Nautical.
    1. to sail on a reach.
    2. to sail with the wind forward of the beam but so as not to require sailing close-hauled.

noun

1. an act or instance of reaching:

   to make a reach for a gun.

2. the extent or distance of reaching:

   within reach of his voice.

3. range of effective action, power, or capacity.

   Synonyms: scope, sphere, area

4. a continuous stretch or extent of something:

   a reach of woodland.

5. Also called pound. a level portion of a canal, between locks.
6. Nautical. a point of sailing in which the wind is within a few points of the beam, either forward of the beam close reach, directly abeam beam reach, or abaft the beam broad reach.
7. the pole connecting the rear axle of a wagon to the transverse bar or bolster over the front axle supporting the wagon bed.
8. a straight portion of a river between two bends.

reach

/ riːtʃ /

verb

1. tr to arrive at or get to (a place, person, etc) in the course of movement or action

   to reach the office

2. to extend as far as (a point or place)

   to reach the ceiling

   can you reach?

3. tr to come to (a certain condition, stage, or situation)

   to reach the point of starvation

4. intr to extend in influence or operation

   the Roman conquest reached throughout England

5. informal.
   tr to pass or give (something to a person) with the outstretched hand

   to reach someone a book

6. intr; foll by out, for, or after to make a movement (towards), as if to grasp or touch

   to reach for something on a shelf

7. intr; foll by for or after to strive or yearn

   to reach for the impossible

8. tr to make contact or communication with (someone)

   we tried to reach him all day

9. tr to strike, esp in fencing or boxing
10. tr to amount to (a certain sum)

    to reach the five million mark

11. intr nautical to sail on a tack with the wind on or near abeam

noun

1. the act of reaching
2. the extent or distance of reaching

   beyond her reach

   within reach of safety

3. the range of influence, power, jurisdiction, etc
4. an open stretch of water, esp on a river
5. nautical the direction or distance sailed by a vessel on one tack
6. a bar on the rear axle of a vehicle connecting it with some part at the front end
7. television radio the percentage of the population selecting a broadcast programme or channel for more than a specified time during a day or week
8. marketing the proportion of a market that an advertiser hopes to reach at least once in a campaign

Derived Forms

• ˈreacher, noun
• ˈreachable, adjective

Other Words From

• reacha·ble adjective
• reacha·bili·ty noun
• reacher noun
• un·reacha·ble adjective
• un·reached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reach¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb rechen, Old English rǣcan (cognate with German reichen, Dutch reiken ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reach¹

Old English rǣcan ; related to Old Frisian rēka , Old High German reihhen

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with reach , also see boardinghouse reach ; get to (reach) first base ; in reach .

Synonym Study

See grasp.

Related Words

• approach
• attain
• contact
• end
• go
• join
• lead
• make
• pass
• stand
• strike