reach
gb/ɹˈit͡ʃ/ us/ɹˈit͡ʃ/
A2
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Stretch arm/body toward something
To move your hand or arm toward something to touch or take it.
Usage pattern:
to reach [for/toward] [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'reach' with 'grab'; 'grab' means to take hold quickly, while 'reach' means to extend towards something, not necessarily taking it yet.
Synonyms
stretch (Emphasizes lengthening the body or limb, not necessarily to grasp.)
Antonyms
withdraw (Means to pull back a hand or arm instead of extending it.)
Collocations
reach for the phone
|reach into a bag
|reach across the table
|reach toward the shelf
Themes
daily life
|movement
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She reached for her coffee mug.
- He reached into his pocket for some change.
- The child reached toward the cookie jar.
- I reached across the table to shake his hand.
Learner examples
- I reach for my bag.
- She reaches for the cup.
- He reaches into his coat.
- We reach toward the door.
Verb
A2
action
2
Arrive at a location
To get to a place after going there.
Usage pattern:
to reach [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'reach to' for locations; correct usage is usually 'reach [place]' without 'to'.
Synonyms
arrive (More general; does not imply effort or difficulty like 'reach' sometimes does.)
Antonyms
depart (Means to leave a place rather than arrive.)
Collocations
reach the station
|reach home
|reach the city center
Themes
travel
|movement
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We reached Paris after a long drive.
- They reached the top of the mountain at noon.
- He finally reached home after midnight.
Learner examples
- I reach school at 8 a.m.
- We reach the park in ten minutes.
- They reach the city in two hours.
Verb
B1
action
3
Make contact with someone
To talk to or send a message to someone successfully.
Usage pattern:
to reach [someone] [by/through] [method]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'reach' with 'arrive' in this sense; here it refers to communication, not physical location.
Synonyms
contact (More formal and general; 'reach' often implies effort to make contact.)
Antonyms
ignore (Means to deliberately not communicate with someone.)
Collocations
reach someone by phone
|reach out to clients
|unable to reach him
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I tried calling but couldn't reach her.
- You can reach me by email anytime.
- He finally reached his lawyer after several attempts.
Learner examples
- I cannot reach my friend.
- You can reach me by phone.
- We reach our teacher by email.
Verb
B1
action
4
Achieve a target or level
To get to a goal, level, or result.
Usage pattern:
to reach [a goal/level/point]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'get' instead of 'reach' in formal contexts; 'get' is less formal and can be vague.
Synonyms
attain (More formal; often used in academic or professional contexts.)
Antonyms
fail (Means to not achieve a goal or desired result.)
Collocations
reach an agreement
|reach a decision
|reach the finals
Themes
goals
|achievement
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The two sides finally reached an agreement.
- She reached her career goal within five years.
- We reached the finals of the competition.
Learner examples
- We reach our goal.
- They reach a decision.
- She reaches the top level.
Noun
A2
quantity
5
Distance arm can extend
How far you can touch when you stretch your arm or something you hold.
Synonyms
grasp range (Specifically refers to physical range of grasping.)
Antonyms
beyond reach (Indicates something is farther than can be touched.)
Collocations
within reach
|out of reach
|arm's reach
Themes
measurement
|movement
|body
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Keep dangerous tools out of children's reach.
- The book was just within his reach.
- She placed the phone within arm's reach.
Learner examples
- The cup is in my reach.
- The ball is out of reach.
- The toy is within her reach.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reach
IPA
GB/ɹˈit͡ʃ/
US/ɹˈit͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
reach (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (reach)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: reach
- Plural: reach, reaches
Verb
- Base: reach
- 3rd Person Singular: reaches
- Present Participle: reaching
- Past: reached
Word family
Forms
reaches
noun
reaching
verb
reached
verb
Core family
reachable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unreachable
adjective
Related words
outreach
noun B2
Advanced or less common
overreach
verb
Expressions
out of reach
1/ˈaʊt əv ɹˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Too far away physically or figuratively
Too far away for you to touch or get.
Examples
- The jar was out of reach on the top shelf.
- For many families, owning a home is out of reach.
reach a conclusion
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ə kəŋklˈuʒən/
fixed phrase
Decide after careful thought
To decide something after thinking about it carefully.
Examples
- The police reached the conclusion that it was an accident.
- We reached a conclusion after reviewing all the facts.
reach out
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Offer help or contact someone
To try to help or talk to someone.
Examples
- She reached out to her old friends after many years.
- The charity reaches out to homeless people in the city.
reach an agreement
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ən əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
Make a mutual decision after talks
To decide something together after talking about it.
Examples
- The two companies reached an agreement on the merger.
- After hours of discussion, they reached an agreement.
reach an agreement
2/ɹˈit͡ʃ ən əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
successfully decide together after talks
To agree on something after talking about it.
Examples
- After hours of debate, they reached an agreement.
- The two sides reached an agreement on trade terms.
within reach
1/wɪðˈɪn ɹˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Close enough to touch/achieve
Close enough for you to touch or get.
Examples
- The remote control was within reach on the table.
- Victory is within reach if we work hard.
within reach
2/wɪðˈɪn ɹˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
close enough to reach or get
Close enough for you to touch or achieve.
Examples
- Keep dangerous tools within reach of adults only.
- Victory is now within reach.