reach

I UK [riːtʃ] / US [rɪtʃ] verb
Word forms "reach":
present tense I/you/we/they reach he/she/it reaches present participle reaching past tense reached past participle reached
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1) [transitive] to arrive somewhere

We hoped to reach the camp before dark.

When she reached the top of the stairs her heart was pounding.

a) [transitive] if something reaches someone, they receive it after it has been sent to them

News reached him that his wife and child were safe.

The money should reach your bank account within three working days.

b) [transitive] to get to a particular point in time or a particular stage in a process

You reach a point where medicine can't help.

The children have reached the age when they want more privacy.

c) [transitive] to get as high as a particular level or amount

Temperatures here can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

d) [intransitive] to be long enough or large enough to get to a particular point

reach to:

Her blond hair reaches to her waist.

reach as far as:

They own land that reaches as far as the border.

2)

a) [intransitive] to move your hand, arm, leg etc towards something that you are trying to touch or pick up

reach for:

He turned round and reached for the phone.

reach into:

Travis reached into his pocket to get his car keys.

reach across:

I reached across the table and took Alice's hand.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to manage to touch something or pick it up by stretching out your hand, arm, leg etc

She had to stand on a chair to reach the switch.

We keep the bottles up here so the children can't reach them.

3) [transitive] to achieve something after discussing it or thinking about it for a long time

reach (an) agreement:

An agreement was finally reached last night.

reach a decision/conclusion/compromise:

Ministers must reach a decision before next month.

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Collocations:
Nouns frequently used as objects of reach
▪  agreement, compromise, conclusion, consensus, decision, settlement, verdict

4) [transitive] if something such as a programme or message reaches people, they see it or hear it

The advertisement reached an audience of over 19 million.

Our political message is still not reaching enough people.

5) [transitive] to succeed in talking to someone by telephone or radio

I'll leave you a number where I can be reached in an emergency.

Phrasal verbs:

- reach out

- reach out to

See:

star I

II UK [riːtʃ] / US [rɪtʃ] noun **

1)

a) [uncountable] the distance within which you can touch something or pick it up by stretching out your hand, arm, leg etc

within reach:

Position the shelves so that the books are within reach of your desk.

beyond/out of reach:

I kicked the knife out of reach.

b) the distance that you travel to get somewhere

within (easy) reach:

The hotel is within easy reach of the town centre.

2) [singular] the amount of authority or influence that someone or something has

within/beyond the reach of someone/something:

Elizabeth now felt herself to be beyond the reach of the Catholic Church.

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the furthest/far/outer reaches of something — mainly literary the most distant or mysterious parts of something

the outer reaches of space

out of/beyond someone's reach — used for saying that someone cannot have or do something because they do not have enough money or skill

Achievements like these are beyond the reach of ordinary players.

the upper/lower reaches of something — a particular part of a river that is near to/far from where it begins; the high/low levels of an organization

There are few women in the upper reaches of the civil service.

- within someone's reach