Reach | Mean of reach in English Dictionary

/ˈriːtʃ/

• Verb
• to be able to touch, pick up, or grab (something) by moving or stretching
1. She couldn't reach the apple. She was too short.
2. He couldn't reach the apple, even with a stick.
3. Can you reach me that pencil? = Can you reach that pencil for me? [=can you pick up that pencil and give it to me?]
4. It's no good. I can't reach. [=I can't touch what I'm trying to touch]
• to move or stretch (your hand, arm, etc.) when you are trying to touch or grab something
1. I reached my hand out (to her). = I reached out my hand (to her).
2. She reached her hand into her purse to get her wallet.
3. She can't reach that far.
4. I reached up to pull the cord.
5. She reached into her purse.
6. He was reaching out to grab the railing when he fell.
• to arrive at (a place that you have been traveling to)
1. We reached California after driving for two days.
2. The rescue team reached the stranded hikers this morning. [=the rescue team arrived this morning at the place where the hikers were stranded]
3. He reached [=got to] the play-offs but was eliminated in the first round.

• to grow, develop, or increase to (a particular amount, size, etc.)
1. You are an adult when you reach [=become] 18.
2. The lottery is expected to reach $50 million.
3. The temperature could reach 100°F this afternoon.
4. These plants can reach (up to) 6 feet tall.
5. The winds could reach 60 mph.
• to come to (a particular situation or condition)
1. The situation has reached [=gotten to, arrived at] a critical point.
2. We've reached a crisis in the negotiations.
• to succeed in achieving (something) after making an effort over a period of time
1. The school has reached their goal of raising $10,000.
2. They are still trying to reach an agreement.
3. Have you reached a decision?
4. Has the jury reached a verdict?
• to be seen or heard by (someone)
1. Your letter reached me yesterday. [=I received your letter yesterday]
2. The news just reached us. [=we just heard the news]
3. The news won't reach his parents until tomorrow.
4. She left a message for her boss, but it didn't reach him.
• to call or write to (someone)
1. I tried to reach [=contact] you by phone.
2. You can reach me by e-mail.
• to get the attention or interest of (someone)
1. The company is using TV commercials to reach a bigger audience.
2. Her music reaches young people.
• to make (someone) understand or accept something
1. I don't think I'm reaching my son.
• to move your hand in order to get or touch (someone or something)
1. She reached for the salt and pepper.
2. He reached into his pocket for a dime.
3. She reached inside the bag for a pen.
4. The frog jumped as she reached for it.
• to try hard to achieve or succeed at (something)
1. Success won't come to you, you have to reach for it.
• to make an effort to do something for other people
1. The church is reaching out to help the poor.
• to offer help or support to (someone)
1. The students are reaching out to the homeless.
2. a community reaching out to refugees
• to try to get the attention and interest of (someone)
1. He's reaching out to young voters.
• Noun
• the distance that you can stretch your arm to touch, pick up, or grab something
1. The toy was within/in her reach. [=she was able to touch/reach the toy]
2. Keep chemicals out of the reach of [=away from] children.
3. The ball was just out of her reach. [=she was not quite able to touch or grab the ball]
4. The ball was beyond her reach. [=the ball was too far away for her to grab]
5. The boxer has a long reach. [=can reach a long way; has long arms]
6. He kept a dictionary within reach. [=nearby]
7. The child tried to grab anything in reach. [=anything that was close enough to touch]
8. The ball was just out of reach.
• the ability or power of someone or something to do, achieve, or control something
1. Victory was within their reach. [=they were close to victory]
2. Buying a new car is beyond our reach right now. [=we do not have enough money to buy a new car right now]
3. His illness was beyond the reach of medicine. [=medicine could not cure his illness]
4. Victory was within reach.
5. Their goal is out of reach.
• the parts of an area that are a long way from the center
1. The country's farthest reaches had not been explored.
2. the outer reaches of the universe
3. the further reaches of the valley
4. the northern reaches of the country
5. Scientists are still discovering the far reaches of the human mind.
• levels of an organization
1. the upper/higher/lower reaches of the business
• a straight part of a stream or river
1. the upper/lower reaches of the river
• close to (something)
1. Our house is within easy reach of the highway.