reached; reaching; reaches
2
a
: to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object
couldn't reach the apple
b
: to pick up and draw toward one : take
c(1)
: to extend to
the shadow reached the wall
(2)
: to get up to or as far as : come to
your letter reached me yesterday
his voice reached the last rows
they hoped to reach an agreement
3
: to hand over : pass
1
a
: to make a stretch with or as if with one's hand
b
: to strain after something
2
3
: to sail on a reach
reacher
noun
1
: a continuous stretch or expanse
especially
: a straight portion of a stream or river
2
3
: a bearing shaft or coupling pole
especially
: the rod joining the hind axle to the forward bolster of a wagon
4
: the tack sailed by a ship with the wind coming just forward of the beam or with the wind directly abeam or abaft the beam
Synonyms
Examples of reach in a Sentence
Verb
She couldn't reach the apple. She was too short.
He couldn't reach the apple, even with a stick.
She can't reach that far.
We reached California after driving for two days.
Their land reaches the river.
Their land reaches to the river.
The phone cord doesn't reach.
Noun
The ball was just out of reach.
Their goal is out of reach.
The country's farthest reaches had not been explored.
the upper reaches of the business
the upper reaches of the river
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Wind chills reached minus 36 Fahrenheit (minus 38 Celsius) that night in January 2022 as the family from India set out on foot to meet a waiting van.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
But Womack tacked on his third rushing TD of the game after that, and junior Chase Mehan put the game out of reach with his second rushing score in the fourth quarter.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reach 
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Verb
Local health officials are working to reach everyone who may have had contact with the infected individual, and they are expected to do so in this case, said Preston Merchant, a spokesman for the San Mateo County health department.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
Wind chills reached minus 36 Fahrenheit (minus 38 Celsius) that night in January 2022 as the family from India set out on foot to meet a waiting van.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
After all, in terms of reach, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism have all been larger and longer-lasting than any state in history.
—Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
But Womack tacked on his third rushing TD of the game after that, and junior Chase Mehan put the game out of reach with his second rushing score in the fourth quarter.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 17 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reach
Dictionary Entries Near reach
Cite this Entry
“Reach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reach. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reach
1 of 2 verb1
: to stretch out : extend
reached out her arm
2
a
: to touch or move to touch or take by sticking out a part of the body (as the hand) or something held in the hand
couldn't reach the apple, even standing on tiptoes
reached for the catsup
b
: to extend or stretch to
their land reaches the river
c
: to get up to or as far as : come to
your letter reached me yesterday
tried to reach an agreement
d
: to communicate with
tried to reach you by phone
3
: hand entry 2 sense 2, pass
please reach me the salt
reacher
noun
reach
2 of 2 noun1
: an unbroken stretch (as of a river)
2
a
: the action or an act of reaching
b
: the distance one can reach
kept it in easy reach
c
: ability to stretch so as to touch something
you have a long reach
d
: the ability to reach something as if by using the hands
a new car is beyond our reach right now
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