Reached Reach I Hand Riːtʃ Extra Examples Touch

• they didn't reach the border until after dark.
• the beach can only be reached by boat.
• i hope this letter reaches you.
• we finally reached our destination.

reach

Verb Forms

1. to arrive at the place that you have been travelling to
• They didn't reach the border until after dark.
• The beach can only be reached by boat.
• I hope this letter reaches you.
• We finally reached our destination.

Extra Examples

• He had barely reached the door when he collapsed.
• Having reached your destination, you should record your exact time of arrival.
• It took them three hours to reach the opposite shore.
• It was almost midnight when I reached home.
• When we reach the top we'll have a rest.
2. to come to somebody’s attention
• The rumours eventually reached the President.
3. to increase to a particular level, speed, etc. over a period of time
• The conflict has now reached a new level of intensity.
• Daytime temperatures can reach 40°C.
• This tree can reach a height of 24 metres.
• Her popularity reached its peak in the late 1990s.
• Over half the candidates failed to reach the expected standard.

Extra Examples

• Profits are expected to reach £2 billion this year.
• The city's population had nearly reached a million by 1920.
• The cost can easily reach six figures.
4. to arrive at a particular point or stage of something after a period of time
• We have a good chance of reaching the final.
• His parents have not yet reached retirement age.
• The problem has now reached crisis point.
• I have reached the stage in my career where I need a change.
• The negotiations have reached deadlock.
• I'd just like to reach the end of the chapter.
5. to achieve a particular aim
• SYNONYM arrive at
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/arrive
• Politicians again failed to reach an agreement.
• The two men reached the same conclusion.
• They have yet to reach a decision.
• In the end we reached a compromise.
• The jury was unable to reach a verdict.
• We will not stop until we have reached our goal.

Extra Examples

• The jury took two days to reach a verdict.
• Greater efforts are needed to reach the goal of universal education.
• Doctors cannot reach an accurate diagnosis if they do not have all the relevant information.
6. to stretch your hand towards something in order to touch it, pick it up, etc.
• She reached inside her bag for a pen.
• I reached out to pat the dog.
• He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
• She reached blindly for the light switch.
• He reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
• He reached out his hand to touch her.

Extra Examples

• I reached inside my pocket for a pen.
• He reached into his bag and took out a book.
• She reached for the telephone and picked it up.
• Slowly he reached out and picked up the gun.
• He reached out gingerly to touch it.
• He instinctively reached for his camera.
• A hand reached down to help her up the ladder.
7. to be able to stretch your hand far enough in order to touch something, pick something up, etc.
• ‘Grab the end of the rope.’ ‘I can't reach that far!’
• Can you reach the light switch from where you're sitting?
• I can't reach the top shelf.
• She had arranged her desk so that she could reach everything easily.
8. to stretch your hand out or up in order to get something for somebody
• Can you reach that box down for me?
• Can you reach me down that box?
9. to be big enough, long enough, etc. to arrive at a particular point
• The carpet only reached halfway across the room.
• His hair reached down to the middle of his back.
• Is the cable long enough to reach the socket?
• Her skirt almost reached the ground.
10. to communicate with somebody, especially by phone
• Do you know where I can reach him?
• You can reach me at this number.
• No one at the company could be reached for comment.
11. to be seen or heard by somebody
• Through the internet we are able to reach a wider audience.
12. somebody hears about something, especially when other people already know about it
• News of his affair eventually reached her ears.
13. to try to be successful at something that is difficult

Word Origin

• Old English rǣcan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch reiken and German reichen.