reach
verb OPAL S
/riːtʃ/
/riːtʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they reach | /riːtʃ/ /riːtʃ/ |
| he / she / it reaches | /ˈriːtʃɪz/ /ˈriːtʃɪz/ |
| past simple reached | /riːtʃt/ /riːtʃt/ |
| past participle reached | /riːtʃt/ /riːtʃt/ |
| -ing form reaching | /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/ /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] reach something/somebody to arrive at the place that you have been travelling to
- They didn't reach the border until after dark.
- The beach can only be reached by boat.
- I hope this letter reaches you.
- We finally reached our destination.
Extra Examples- He had barely reached the door when he collapsed.
- Having reached your destination, you should record your exact time of arrival.
- It took them three hours to reach the opposite shore.
- It was almost midnight when I reached home.
- When we reach the top we'll have a rest.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- easily
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- be expected to
- …
- [transitive] reach somebody to come to somebody’s attention
- The rumours eventually reached the President.
- [transitive] reach something to increase to a particular level, speed, etc. over a period of time
- The conflict has now reached a new level of intensity.
- Daytime temperatures can reach 40°C.
- This tree can reach a height of 24 metres.
- Her popularity reached its peak in the late 1990s.
- Over half the candidates failed to reach the expected standard.
Extra Examples- Profits are expected to reach £2 billion this year.
- The city's population had nearly reached a million by 1920.
- The cost can easily reach six figures.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- easily
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- be expected to
- …
- [transitive] reach something to arrive at a particular point or stage of something after a period of time
- We have a good chance of reaching the final.
- His parents have not yet reached retirement age.
- The problem has now reached crisis point.
- I have reached the stage in my career where I need a change.
- The negotiations have reached deadlock.
- I'd just like to reach the end of the chapter.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- easily
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- be expected to
- …
- [transitive] reach something to achieve a particular aim synonym arrive at
- Politicians again failed to reach an agreement.
- The two men reached the same conclusion.
- They have yet to reach a decision.
- In the end we reached a compromise.
- The jury was unable to reach a verdict.
- We will not stop until we have reached our goal.
Extra Examples- The jury took two days to reach a verdict.
- Greater efforts are needed to reach the goal of universal education.
- Doctors cannot reach an accurate diagnosis if they do not have all the relevant information.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- easily
- …
- attempt to
- try to
- be expected to
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to stretch your hand towards something in order to touch it, pick it up, etc.
- + adv./prep. She reached inside her bag for a pen.
- I reached out to pat the dog.
- He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
- She reached blindly for the light switch.
- He reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
- reach something + adv./prep. He reached out his hand to touch her.
Extra Examples- I reached inside my pocket for a pen.
- He reached into his bag and took out a book.
- She reached for the telephone and picked it up.
- Slowly he reached out and picked up the gun.
- He reached out gingerly to touch it.
- He instinctively reached for his camera.
- A hand reached down to help her up the ladder.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gingerly
- hesitantly
- tentatively
- …
- for
- inside
- into
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to be able to stretch your hand far enough in order to touch something, pick something up, etc.
- (+ adv./prep.) ‘Grab the end of the rope.’ ‘I can't reach that far!’
- reach something Can you reach the light switch from where you're sitting?
- I can't reach the top shelf.
- She had arranged her desk so that she could reach everything easily.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- almost
- nearly
- …
- can
- [transitive] to stretch your hand out or up in order to get something for somebody
- reach something (down) for somebody Can you reach that box down for me?
- reach somebody (down) something Can you reach me down that box?
- [intransitive, transitive] to be big enough, long enough, etc. to arrive at a particular point
- + adv./prep. The carpet only reached halfway across the room.
- His hair reached down to the middle of his back.
- reach something Is the cable long enough to reach the socket?
- Her skirt almost reached the ground.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- easily
- almost
- nearly
- …
- can
- [transitive] reach somebody to communicate with somebody, especially by phone
- Do you know where I can reach him?
- You can reach me at this number.
- No one at the company could be reached for comment.
- [transitive] reach somebody to be seen or heard by somebody
- Through the internet we are able to reach a wider audience.
arrive
level/speed/stage
achieve aim
with hand/arm
be long enough
contact somebody
be seen/heard by somebody
Word OriginOld English rǣcan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch reiken and German reichen.
Idioms
something comes to/reaches somebody’s ears
- somebody hears about something, especially when other people already know about it
- News of his affair eventually reached her ears.
reach for the stars
- to try to be successful at something that is difficultTopics Successc2