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Definition of reach verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reach

verb
 
/riːtʃ/
 
/riːtʃ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they reach
 
/riːtʃ/
 
/riːtʃ/
he / she / it reaches
 
/ˈriːtʃɪz/
 
/ˈriːtʃɪz/
past simple reached
 
/riːtʃt/
 
/riːtʃt/
past participle reached
 
/riːtʃt/
 
/riːtʃt/
-ing form reaching
 
/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/
 
/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/
Idioms Phrasal Verbs
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    arrive

  1. [transitive] reach something/somebody 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.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • eventually
    • finally
    • easily
    verb + reach
    • attempt to
    • try to
    • be expected to
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] reach somebody to come to somebody’s attention
    • The rumours eventually reached the President.
  3. level/speed/stage

  4. [transitive] reach something 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 reached nearly a million by 1920.
    • The cost can easily reach six figures.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • eventually
    • finally
    • easily
    verb + reach
    • attempt to
    • try to
    • be expected to
    See full entry
  5. [transitive] reach something 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.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • eventually
    • finally
    • easily
    verb + reach
    • attempt to
    • try to
    • be expected to
    See full entry
  6. achieve aim

  7. [transitive] reach something to achieve a particular aim synonym arrive at, arrive at something
    • 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.
    see also far-reaching
    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.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • eventually
    • finally
    • easily
    verb + reach
    • attempt to
    • try to
    • be expected to
    See full entry
  8. with hand/arm

  9. [intransitive, transitive] to stretch your hand towards something in order to touch it, pick it up, etc.
    • + adv./prep. 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.
    • reach something + adv./prep. 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 her phone and made a quick call.
    • Slowly he reached out and picked up the gun.
    • She reached out gingerly to touch it.
    • He instinctively reached for her hand.
    • A hand reached down to help her up the ladder.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gingerly
    • hesitantly
    • tentatively
    preposition
    • for
    • inside
    • into
    See full entry
  10. [intransitive, transitive] to be able to stretch your hand far enough in order to touch something, pick something up, etc.
    • (+ adv./prep.) ‘Grab the end of the rope.’ ‘I can't reach that far!’
    • reach something 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.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • easily
    • almost
    • nearly
    verb + reach
    • can
    See full entry
  11. [transitive] to stretch your hand out or up in order to get something for somebody
    • reach something (down) for somebody Can you reach that box down for me?
    • reach somebody (down) something Can you reach me down that box?
  12. be long enough

  13. [intransitive, transitive] to be big enough, long enough, etc. to arrive at a particular point
    • + adv./prep. The carpet only reached halfway across the room.
    • His hair reached down to the middle of his back.
    • reach something Is the cable long enough to reach the socket?
    • Her skirt almost reached the ground.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • easily
    • almost
    • nearly
    verb + reach
    • can
    See full entry
  14. contact somebody

  15. [transitive] reach somebody 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.
    Topics Phones, email and the internetc1
  16. be seen/heard by somebody

  17. [transitive] reach somebody to be seen or heard by somebody
    • Through the internet we are able to reach a wider audience.
  18. Word OriginOld English rǣcan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch reiken and German reichen.
Idioms
something comes to/reaches somebody’s ears
  1. somebody hears about something, especially when other people already know about it
    • News of his affair eventually reached her ears.
reach for the stars
  1. to try to be successful at something that is difficultTopics Successc2
See reach in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reach in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
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