As a Verb: "Reach" means to stretch out your handorarm to touchsomethingor to move toward something. It can alsomean to achievesomethingormakecontact with someone.
As a Noun: "Reach" refers to the distanceorarea that something can coveroraffect. It can alsomean the ability to achievesomething.
UsageInstructions:
When using "reach" as a verb, think ofphysicalactionslikestretchingorextending your arm.
When usingitas a noun, think oflimitsordistancesrelated topower, control, orinfluence.
Examples:
Verb: "She reached for the bookon the topshelf." (She stretched her arm to get the book.)
Noun: "The reach of the sun'slight can varydepending on the time of day." (The distancesunlight can cover.)
AdvancedUsage:
MetaphoricalSense: "The governmentneeds to reach out to the community." (Thismeans to makecontactorconnect with people in a non-physicalway.)
Achieving Goals: "He workedhard to reachhisgoals in life." (Thismeans to achieveoraccomplishhisgoals.)
Word Variants:
Reaching (verb): The act of extendingor achieving.
Reached (past tense):Indicates that the action of reaching has already happened.
Reachable (adjective):Capable of being reached; accessible.
Outreach (noun): The act of reachingout, especially in terms of connecting with othersorprovidingservices.
Different Meanings:
PhysicalReach: How far you can extend your arm.
InfluentialReach: The areawithin which someoneorsomething has influenceorcontrol, like "the reach of a company."
Goal-OrientedReach: The achievement of a particulartargetorobjective.
Synonyms:
Extend
Stretch
Achieve
Contact
Access
Idioms:
"Out of reach":Something that cannot be attainedor is toofaraway.
Example: "The prizewasout of reach for many contestants."
"Reach for the stars": To strive to achievesomethinggreatorambitious.
Example: "She alwaystells her students to reach for the stars."
Phrasal Verbs:
Reach out: To attempt to contactsomeoneorconnect with them.
Example: "I willreach out to my friend to see how she is doing."
Summary:
"Reach" is a versatileword that can be used in many contexts, bothphysically and metaphorically.
Noun
the limit of capability
within the compass of education
the act of physicallyreachingorthrustingout
an area in which somethingactsoroperatesor has powerorcontrol: "the range of a supersonicjet"
a piano has a greaterrange than the humanvoice
the ambit of municipallegislation
within the compass of thisarticle
within the scope of an investigation
outside the reach of the law
in the politicalorbit of a world power
the limitswithin which something can be effective
range of motion
he wasbeyond the reach of their fire
Verb
to exertmucheffortorenergy
straining our ears to hear
place into the handsorcustody of
hand me the spoon, please
Turn the filesover to me, please
He turnedover the prisoner to hislawyers
reach a goal, e.g., "make the first team"
We madeit!
She may notmake the grade
to extendasfaras
The sunlightreached the wall
Can he reach? The chairmustnottouch the wall
to gain with effort
she achieved her goaldespite setbacks
be in orestablishcommunication with
Our advertisementsreachmillions
He nevercontactedhis children after he emigrated to Australia
moveforwardorupwardin order to touch; also in a metaphoricalsense
Governmentreachesout to the people
reach a point in time, or a certainstateorlevel
The thermometerhit 100 degrees
Thiscar can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour
reach a destination, eitherrealorabstract
We hitDetroitbynoon
The waterreached the doorstep
We barelymadeit to the finish line
I have to hit the MACmachinebefore the weekendstarts