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reach Meaning & Definition

ˈrēch

What Does Reach Mean?

As a verb, reach means to stretch out. It can also mean thrust. As a noun, it means a continuous stretch or expanse.

Reach in Brief

Part of speechverb, noun
Pronunciation/ˈrēch/
Synonymsstrain, attain and ambit
Antonymsbore, jade and pall
Pluralreaches
Verb formsreaches, reaching, reached

Reach Definition (Verb)

  1. to stretch out : extend
  2. thrust
  3. to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object

    couldn't reach the apple

  4. to pick up and draw toward one : take
  5. to extend to

    the shadow reached the wall

  6. to get up to or as far as : come to

    your letter reached me yesterday / his voice reached the last rows / they hoped to reach an agreement

  7. encompass
  8. to make an impression on
  9. to communicate with
  10. to hand over : pass
  11. to make a stretch with or as if with one's hand
  12. to strain after something
  13. project, extend

    his land reaches to the river

  14. to arrive at or come to something

    as far as the eye could reach

  15. to sail on a reach

Reach as a Noun

  1. a continuous stretch or expanse
  2. a straight portion of a stream or river
  3. the action or an act of reaching
  4. an individual part of a progression or journey
  5. a reachable distance

    within reach

  6. ability to reach

    had a long reach

  7. an extent or range especially of knowledge or comprehension
  8. a bearing shaft or coupling pole
  9. the rod joining the hind axle to the forward bolster of a wagon
  10. the tack sailed by a ship with the wind coming just forward of the beam or with the wind directly abeam or abaft the beam
  11. echelon, level

Synonyms of Reach

Reach synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Reach

Reach in a Sentence

He reached for a weapon that was on the table.

He reached for his shoe with his legs.

to reach someone a book

"You'd better reach, sheriff!" warned the cowboy.

to reach an object with the hand, or with a spear

“I can't quite reach the pepper. Could you pass it to me?”

The gun was stored in a small box on a high closet shelf, but the boy managed to reach it by climbing on other boxes.

His bullet reached its intended target.

his hand reaches the river

When the forest reaches the river, you will be able to rest.

After three years, he reached the position of manager.

The climbers reached the top of the mountain after a gruelling ten-day hike.

I tried to reach you all day.

What will it take for me to reach him?

You can only access the inheritance money when you reach the age of 25.

Reach for your dreams.

Reach for the stars!

What time you reaching tomorrow?

The fruit is beyond my reach.

to be within reach of cannon shot

To call George eloquent is certainly a reach.

to reach one a book

couldn't reach the apple

the shadow reached the wall

your letter reached me yesterday

his voice reached the last rows

they hoped to reach an agreement

his land reaches to the river

as far as the eye could reach

within reach

had a long reach

would you reach me the potatoes, please?

you can reach me by phone after 3:00 p.m. most days

the movie adaptation just didn't reach me the way the novel did

she's got a good memory, but critical thinking seems to be beyond her reach

there are still only a few women in the upper reaches of the profession

a wide reach of woods

your letter reached me yesterday / his voice reached the last rows / they hoped to reach an agreement

Word Forms & Grammar

reached

reach·ing

reach·es

reach·able adjective

reach·er noun

reach

reachable

reacher

reachers

reaches

reaching

reach (third-person singular simple present reaches, present participle reaching, simple past and past participle reached or (obsolete) raught)

reach (countable and uncountable, plural reaches)

reach (third-person singular simple present reaches, present participle reaching, simple past and past participle reached)

reach (plural reaches)

Words That Rhyme With Reach

Origin of Reach

Origin 1: Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣcan; akin to Old High German reichen to reach, Lithuanian raižytis to stretch oneself

Origin 2: From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

Origin 3: Cognate with Dutch reiken, German reichen.

Origin 4: From Japanese 立直 (rīchi), from Chinese 立直 (lìzhí).

First Known Use

before 12th centuryt

14th century

Quick Answers About Reach

Is reach a verb or a noun?

Reach is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for reach?

Close synonyms of reach are strain, attain and ambit. See the full list of reach synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of reach?

Antonyms of reach include bore, jade, pall and tire.

What is the plural of reach?

The plural of reach is reaches.

What is the past tense of reach?

The past tense of reach is reached. The present participle is reaching.

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