reach

reach

I. reach¹ S1 W1 /riːtʃ/ BrE AmE verb
[Language: Old English; Origin: ræcan]
1. DEVELOPMENT [transitive] if someone or something reaches a particular point in their development or in a process or competition, they get to that point:
Chelsea could reach the final of the European Cup.
reach the point/level/stage etc
I had reached the point where I was earning a good salary.
The kids have reached the age when they can care for themselves.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often use get to rather than reach:
▪ The kids have got to the age where they can care for themselves.
2. RATE/AMOUNT [transitive] if something reaches a particular rate, amount etc, it increases until it is at that rate or amount:
By 2008, that figure is expected to reach 7 million.
wind speeds reaching up to 180 mph
Prices rose steadily to reach record levels.
3. AGREE [transitive] to agree on something or decide something after a lot of discussion or thought
reach a decision/agreement etc
The theatre has reached an agreement with striking actors.
It took the jury three days to reach a verdict.
The talks will continue until a conclusion is reached.
4. reach a target/goal to achieve what you wanted to achieve:
We hope to reach our £1 million target by the autumn.
5. TOUCH
a) [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move your arm in order to touch or lift something with your hand:
She reached into her bag and produced a business card.
He reached down to help her to her feet.
reach for
Kelly reached for his gun.
Luisa reached out her hand to stroke the cat.
b) [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to touch something by stretching out your arm:
It’s no good – I can’t reach.
She’s too small to reach the table.
c) [transitive] to get something from a high place by stretching up your arm
reach something down
She fell while reaching down a vase from the top shelf.
6. LENGTH/HEIGHT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive not in progressive] to be big enough, long enough etc to get to a particular point:
The phone lead isn’t long enough to reach the bedroom.
a skirt that reaches halfway down her legs
reach as far as something/reach down to something
Her hair reaches down to her waist.
7. ARRIVE [transitive] to arrive at a place:
We reached London late at night.
The pyramids can be reached by public transport.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often use get to rather than reach:
▪ We got to the airport just in time.
▪ You can get to the pyramids by public transport.
8. SPEAK TO SOMEBODY [transitive] if you reach someone, you succeed in speaking to them on the telephone SYN contact:
I can probably reach him on his mobile.
9. BE SEEN/HEARD [transitive] if a message, television programme etc reaches a lot of people, they hear it or see it:
Cable TV reaches a huge audience.
10. INFORMATION [transitive] if information reaches you, you hear about it:
The news reached us in Lahore.
11. COMMUNICATE [transitive] to succeed in making someone understand or accept what you tell them SYN get through to:
I just can’t seem to reach Ed anymore.
12. reach for the stars to aim for something that is very difficult to achieve
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ nouns
▪ reach a point/stage I’ve reached the point in my life where I need a new challenge.
▪ reach a level He eventually reached the level of Senior Instructor.
▪ reach an age The payments will be made until the child reaches college age.
▪ reach the end Some of these power stations are reaching the end of their useful life.
▪ reach maturity (=be fully grown or developed) It takes ten years for these fish to reach maturity.
▪ reach your peak (=be the best or most successful that you will ever be ) Most players don’t reach their peak until their late twenties.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ nouns
▪ reach a decision I hope that they reach a decision soon.
▪ reach a conclusion We reached the conclusion that the man had been murdered.
▪ reach a verdict The jury failed to reach a verdict.
▪ reach an agreement/compromise/settlement (=decide on an arrangement that is acceptable to both groups) Substantial progress was made toward reaching an agreement.
▪ reach agreement/consensus (=agree about something) The experts seem unable to reach consensus on this point.
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THESAURUS
▪ arrive to get to the place you are going to: I arrived at the party at around 7 o'clock. | They were due to arrive home from Spain yesterday.
▪ get to arrive somewhere. Get is much more common in everyday English than arrive: What time do you usually get to work? | I’ll call you when I get home.
▪ reach to arrive somewhere, especially after a long journey: When we finally reached the port, we were all very tired.
▪ come if someone comes, they arrive at the place where you are: She came home yesterday. | What time did the plumber say he’d come?
▪ turn up (also show up) informal to arrive somewhere, especially when someone is waiting for you: I’d arranged to meet Tom, but he never turned up.
▪ roll in informal to arrive somewhere later than you should and not seem worried about it: Rebecca usually rolls in around noon.
▪ get in to arrive somewhere – used especially about people arriving home, or a plane, train etc arriving at an airport, station etc: I usually get in at around 6 o'clock. | What time did your plane get in?
▪ come in if a plane, train, or ship comes in, it arrives in the place where you are: We liked to watch the cruise ships come in.
▪ land if a plane or the passengers on it land, they arrive on the ground: We finally landed at 2 a.m. | They watched the planes taking off and landing.
reach out to somebody phrasal verb
to show people that you are interested in them and want to listen to them:
So far, his administration has failed to reach out to hard line Republicans.