Reach Reached I Hand Riːtʃ Touch Border Eventually

• they didn't reach the border until after dark.
• the beach can only be reached by boat.
• i hope this letter reaches you.
• the rumours eventually reached the president.

reach

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.
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.
4. to arrive at a particular point or stage of something after a period of time
• He first reached the finals in 2014.
• His parents have not yet reached retirement age.
• The negotiations have reached deadlock.
5. to achieve a particular aim
• to reach a conclusion/decision/verdict/compromise
• Politicians again failed to reach an agreement.
6. to stretch your hand towards something in order to touch it, pick it up, etc.
• She reached inside her bag for a pen.
• He reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
• He reached out his hand to touch her.
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?
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.
• Is the cable long enough to reach the socket?
10. to communicate with somebody, especially by telephone
• See related entries: Making calls
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/making_calls/reach
• Do you know where I can reach him?
11. to be seen or heard by somebody
• Through television and radio 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

Extra Examples

• A hand reached down to help her up the ladder.
• He had barely reached the door when he collapsed.
• He instinctively reached for his camera.
• He reached into his bag and took out a book.
• He reached out gingerly to touch it.
• Her skirt almost reached the ground.
• His hair reached halfway to his waist.
• I can’t reach the top shelf.
• I reached inside my pocket for a pen.
• Profits are expected to reach £2 billion this year.
• She had arranged her desk so that she could reach everything easily.
• She reached blindly for the light switch.
• She reached for the telephone and picked it up.
• Slowly he reached out and picked up the gun.
• The city’s population had nearly reached a million by 1920.
• The cost can easily reach six figures.
• The jury was unable to reach a verdict.
• Doctors cannot reach an accurate diagnosis if they do not have all the relevant information.
• Greater efforts are needed to reach the goal of universal education.
• Having reached your destination, you should record your exact time of arrival.
• Is the cable long enough to reach the power supply?
• It took them three hours to reach the opposite shore.
• It was almost midnight when I reached home.
• Politicians again failed to reach an agreement.
• The jury took two days to reach a verdict.
• We didn’t reach the border until the next day.
• When we reach the top we’ll have a rest.
• You can reach me at this number.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they reach
• he / she / it reaches
• past simple reached
• past participle reached
• -ing form reaching

Word Origin

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