- [uncountable, singular] the distance over which you can stretch your arms to touch something; the distance over which a particular object can be used to touch something else
- beyond somebody's reach The shot was well beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
- out of somebody's reach Keep all medicines out of reach of children.
- within somebody's reach He lashed out angrily, hitting anyone within his reach.
- It's a book I like to keep within arm's reach.
- Use shears with a long reach for cutting high hedges.
- As a boxer, his long reach gives him a significant advantage.
Extra Examples- Gorillas have a very long reach.
- I always keep my phone within arm's reach.
- The latch was just beyond her reach.
- The riverbank was almost in reach.
- There was a knife within his reach.
- Cleaning fluids should be kept out of the reach of children.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- long
- have
- beyond (somebody/something’s) reach
- in (somebody/something’s) reach
- within (somebody/something’s) reach
- …
- within arm’s reach
- [uncountable, singular] the limit to which somebody/something has the power or influence to do something
- The brand now has global reach.
- The business aims to extend its reach into the North American market.
- The company has now overtaken its main rival in terms of size and reach.
- beyond somebody/something's reach Such matters are beyond the reach of the law.
- out of somebody/something's reach Victory is now out of her reach.
- within somebody/something's reach The basic model is priced well within the reach of most people.
Extra Examples- He fled abroad, beyond the reach of German prosecutors.
- Humans have extended their reach into space.
- Our $30 000 target is now well within our reach.
- The business is looking at ways to extend its geographic reach.
- The company has a worldwide reach.
- The global reach of the internet has exceeded what anyone could have predicted.
- The organization has a wide reach.
- The price puts it out of the reach of most people.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- vast
- wide
- global
- …
- have
- broaden
- expand
- …
- beyond (somebody/something’s) reach
- in somebody/something’s reach
- within somebody/something’s reach
- …
- [countable, usually plural] a straight section of water between two bends on a river
- the upper/lower reaches of the Nile (= the part that is furthest from/nearest to the sea)
- reaches[plural] the outer, further, etc. reach of something the parts of an area or a place that are a long way from the centre
- the outer reaches of space
- the eastern reaches of the continent
- (figurative) an exploration of the deepest reaches of the human mind
Extra Examples- He dreamed of exploring the outermost reaches of space.
- the farthest reaches of our universe
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- far
- farthest
- furthest
- …
- explore
- reach of
- reaches[plural] the higher, lower, etc. reach of something the higher, etc. sections of an organization, a system, etc.
- the upper reaches of the civil service
- Many clubs in the lower reaches of the league are in financial difficulty.
- the upper reaches of the music charts
of arms
of power/influence
of river
place far from centre
sections of organization
Word OriginOld English rǣcan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch reiken and German reichen.
Idioms
See reach in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reach in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishwithin (easy) reach (of something)
- close to something
- The house is within easy reach of schools and sports facilities.
- Verona and Padua are both within easy reach for day trips.
- a holiday town within reach of Marseilles
Check pronunciation:
reach