reach

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /riːtʃ/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like rich /ɪ/ vs /iː/ Sounds like leach /l/ vs /r/

Freq #1075

Meanings

1

verb
to stretch out an arm or hand in order to touch, take, or give something

She reached across the desk to take the folder.
2

verb
to arrive at a place or get to a particular point

The bus reached the village before sunset.
3

verb
to extend as far as a place or point

The branches reach over the garden wall.
4

verb
to contact someone, for example by telephone or message

We could not reach the office before it closed.
5

noun
a stretch or section of a river, waterway, or area of land

The narrow upper reaches of the river are difficult to navigate.

1 more meanings

6

noun
usually plural: a high or low level within an organization, society, or range of activity

The appointment brought her into the upper reaches of the civil service.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to arrive at a place or get... arrive

3 verb · to extend as far as a place... extend

4 verb · to contact someone, for... contact

5 noun · a stretch or section of a... stretch section

6 noun · usually plural: a high or... level

Word family

Forms reachedreachesreaching

Derived forms areachatreachbroad-reachingfar-reachingfarreachingforereachhighreachingmisreachoutreach overreachreach-me-downreach-through

Appears in

Phrases (6)

See all

upper reaches
the parts of a river or area nearest its upper end or source

Adjective + noun
reach an age
arrive at a particular point in one's life

Verb + noun
reach the finish
arrive at the end point of a race or challenge

Verb + noun
reach the station
arrive at a station, typically after hurrying

Verb + noun
reach a decision
to arrive at a conclusion after deliberation or discussion

Verb + noun
reach puberty
to arrive at the stage when the body begins developing sexual maturity

Verb + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Reach out and touch someone

Etymology

From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

*h₃reǵ- Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- Proto-Indo-European rechen Middle English rǣċan Old English *raikijan Proto-West Germanic *raikijaną Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# reach

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /riːtʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 1075

## Meanings
1. to stretch out an arm or hand in order to touch, take, or give something
2. to arrive at a place or get to a particular point
3. to extend as far as a place or point
4. to contact someone, for example by telephone or message
5. a stretch or section of a river, waterway, or area of land
6. usually plural: a high or low level within an organization, society, or range of activity

## Examples
- She reached across the desk to take the folder.
- The bus reached the village before sunset.
- The branches reach over the garden wall.
- We could not reach the office before it closed.
- The narrow upper reaches of the river are difficult to navigate.
- The appointment brought her into the upper reaches of the civil service.

## Derived Forms
- areach
- atreach
- broad-reaching
- far-reaching
- farreaching
- forereach
- highreaching
- misreach
- outreach
- overreach
- reach-me-down
- reach-through

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₃reǵ-
- Root: *Hreyǵ-
- Root: rechen
- Root: rǣċan
- Root: *raikijan
- Root: *raikijaną

## Etymology
From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

## AI Etymology
Reach comes from Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”). Modern senses include to stretch out your arm, especially to touch or take something. and to arrive at or get to a place or point.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as areach, atreach, broad-reaching, far-reaching, farreaching, and forereach.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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