reach

The word “reach” means to stretch out an arm or hand toward something in order to touch or grasp it. In plain terms, to stretch toward something, to arrive somewhere, or to get in contact with someone — also used as a noun for how far something extends.

“Reach” is pronounced reech (/ɹiːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

Here is “reach” used in a sentence: “She reached for the top shelf but still couldn't quite reach it.”

Depending on how it is used, “reach” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “reach” comes from Old English. From Old English rǣċan ("to reach, to stretch out"), a very old Germanic verb related to Dutch reiken and German reichen.

“Reach” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Reach” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stretch out an arm or hand toward something in order to touch or grasp it.

Reaching is the act of stretching out your arm or hand toward something, often before contact is made. Grabbing is closing your hand firmly around an object to hold it. You typically reach first and grab second, so reaching describes the motion toward, while grabbing describes the taking hold.

No. While its core physical sense is stretching an arm toward something, 'reach' has many other everyday meanings: to arrive at a place ('reach London'), to make contact ('reach me by phone'), or to attain a level ('reach a goal'). Context makes the intended meaning clear.

Imagine standing in a kitchen and stretching your arm up toward a mug on a high shelf — that motion is reaching. Other examples include reaching across a table for the salt, or a child reaching out to be picked up. The hallmark is extending the hand toward a target.