From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreachreach1 /riːtʃ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 development [transitive]REACH 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.RegisterIn 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]SUCCEED IN DOING something to agree on something or decide something after a lot of discussion or thoughtreach 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/goal5 touch a) [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]REACH 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]REACH 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]REACH to get something from a high place by stretching up your armreach something down She fell while reaching down a vase from the top shelf.6 length/height [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive not in progressive]REACH 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 legsreach as far as something/reach down to something Her hair reaches down to her waist. 7 arrive [transitive]ARRIVE to arrive at a place We reached London late at night. The pyramids can be reached by public transport.► see thesaurus at arriveRegisterIn 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]CONTACT somebody 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]CONTACT somebody 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 → reach out to somebodyCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: if someone or something reaches a particular point in their development or in a process or competition, they get to that pointnounsreach a point/stageI’ve reached the point in my life where I need a new challenge.reach a levelHe eventually reached the level of Senior Instructor.reach an ageThe payments will be made until the child reaches college age.reach the endSome 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 – Meaning 3: to agree on something or decide something after a lot of discussion or thoughtnounsreach a decisionI hope that they reach a decision soon.reach a conclusionWe reached the conclusion that the man had been murdered.reach a verdictThe 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. GRAMMAR: Comparisonreach• You reach a city, country, or other place: The climbers reached the summit of the mountain. • You reach here/there: You should reach there around 9.45 a.m.• You reach home: She finally reached home late at night. ✗Don’t say: reach to a place | reach to here/there | reach to home arrive• You arrive in a city or country: We arrived in London at 2 a.m. • You arrive at a place such as a house, hotel, or airport: They arrived at the airport at 10.30.• You arrive home: He arrived home at midnight.• You arrive here/there/back: Call me when you arrive there. ✗Don’t say: arrive to a place | arrive to home | arrive to here/there get• You get to a city, country, or other place: We got to London at 2 a.m. We got to the airport at 10.30.• You get home: He got home at midnight.• You get here/there/back: Call me when you get there. ✗Don’t say: get to home | get to here/there→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
reach• China's economic output is likely to reach $13 trillion within the next few years.• It won't work - the ladder won't reach.• Can you get that book down for me? I can't reach.• After you reach a certain age, nobody wants to hire you.• Inflation continued to rise, reaching a peak of 28%.• Hurricane damage could reach billions of dollars.• In winter, parts of Northern Canada can only be reached by plane.• I don't think these curtains will reach down to the floor.• Have you tried reaching her at home?• Immersed in his thoughts, Kirov reached his small tailor's shop without realizing it.• Babies will put everything they can reach in their mouths.• The door irised open and he reached inside, drawing out the tiny phial before the door closed up again.• At this point the panic reached its peak.• Have you been able to reach Neil?• Someone reached out and grabbed her arm.• The blankets lay to one side of the fire and she reached out for them.• Lastly, Linda will have to work full-time or part-time for this retirement goal to be reached, Steinmetz said.• Temperatures are expected to reach the 80s and 90s.• When he reached the age of reason, I confidently sent him forth to seek his fortune.• It took seven hours before we reached the border.• Snow prevented workers from reaching the broken pipeline.• After reaching the desired revs by using the foot throttle, the driver then pushes the centre button.• This means our mailings to advisers are far more likely to reach the person they are intended for.• Can you reach the salt for me?• It took more than three days to reach the top of the mountain.• I can't reach the top shelf.• Some letters are taking up to two weeks to reach their destination.• Gold prices have reached their lowest level in 15 years.reach the point/level/stage etc• Eventually one of them would reach the point.• Single-cell protein production from non-photosynthetic organisms has also reached the stage of commercial availability, mainly as animal feed.• Sailmaking We've reached the point of no return!• Neither one has reached the stage of serious negotiations.• By the time students reach the stage of taking their final examinations, most of them know their subject pretty well.• In 1895 his income reached the level stipulated by Alfred, and the young couple made plans to marry.• Under the Assyrians, celestial observation reached the point where a true science of astronomy could arise for the first time.• This convinced him he had to reach the point where there was no turning back.reach record levels• In many countries, IPOs have reached record levels just before stockmarket crashes.• Much of the crooked trading is tied to mergers and acquisitions, which reached record levels last year.• Sales have reached record levels, mainly through company stores in Florida, and it has become Porter Paints' fastest-growing product. reach a decision/agreement etc• Any analysis must take account of this, by understanding and responding to the ways in which politicians reach decisions.• First, if the political parties can not reach agreement among themselves, the President must become involved in the negotiations.• Regulators are scheduled to reach a decision by Feb. 18 on whether they will accept the banks' merger applications.• Barneys said the two parties could not reach agreement on financing, royalties and trade name issues.• Kolelas and Lissouba were reported to have failed to reach agreement on forming a new government at a meeting on Nov. 15.• At best in a major conflict it would give allies time to reach agreement on how to use nuclear weapons.reach for• There was a noise outside, and Bill reached for his flashlight.• I reached for the salt, and knocked over a bottle of wine.reaches ... audience• Today the terrible injustice done to those prisoners reaches a mass audience. reachreach2 ●○○ noun 1 DISTANCE[singular, uncountable] the distance that you can stretch out your arm to touch somethingout of/beyond (somebody’s) reach Keep chemicals out of the reach of children.within reach (of somebody) Keep a glass of water within reach.2 → within (easy) reach of something3 FAR[singular, uncountable] the limit of someone’s power or ability to do somethingbeyond the reach of somebody He lives in Paraguay, well beyond the reach of the British authorities.4 → reaches5 → the higher/lower reaches of somethingExamples from the Corpus
reach• Its failing came in the inevitable shortfall between reach and grasp.• The highest reaches of love and life depend on trust.• a boxer with a long reach• These shrimp live 3,600 meters below the surface, far beyond the reach of sunlight.• The quality of diet is falling as the prices of meat and staple provisions rise beyond the reach of many poor residents.• Grayling in upper reaches, some pike around Darlington.• Jaq doubted that even the most towering of storms could engulf the uppermost reaches of Vasilariov.out of/beyond (somebody’s) reach• With aid supplies almost always out of reach, the boys became weak, and stragglers fell prey to wild animals.• Directives come from on high, and the entire process is remote and out of reach.• It is usually implied that the answers are out of reach of science.• I thought it would always be out of my reach.• It was clear to him that if he dislodged the knife it would fall completely out of reach.• Instead, they stayed inside and poked their arms through the bars for their food, just out of reach.• For years they saw their dreams frustrated, their goals just out of reach.• The little town crowns a low plateau just out of reach of the flood plain of the nearby Deerfield River.beyond the reach of somebody• The cost of the abortion plus the cost of the travel may well place abortion beyond the reach of many young women.• The government's capture of Toro airstrip near Tabanya has put the displaced almost beyond the reach of help.• Now they were lords of the galaxy, and beyond the reach of time.• However, the prices are beyond the reach of publishers.• In January 1312, as soon as he felt himself to be beyond the reach of the barons, the favourites were restored.• Because they tell truths and provide insights beyond the reach of foreign correspondents angling for knighthoods and Pulitzer Prizes.• But the extra investment needed is simply beyond the reach of many growers.• If there was any wisp of consciousness remaining, it was beyond the reach of instruments, and of memory.From Longman Business Dictionaryreachreach1 /riːtʃ/ verb [transitive]1to increase or improve to a particular level or amountSales are expected to reach 1.2 billion euros this year.2to succeed in making someone see an advertisement, hear about a product etcSponsors want to reach 18-to-34-year olds.The company has an opportunity to reach new customers.3to succeed in speaking to someone or giving them a message by telephoneHe tried three times to reach Mr. Gumbel at his hotel.4reach an agreement/decision/settlement etc to succeed in making an agreement, decision etcThe company failed to reach a labor agreement with the Union.→ See Verb tablereachreach2 noun [singular, uncountable]1MARKETING the number of people that see or hear an advertisement, television programme etcThe network has a reach of about 4 million homes.2within/beyond someone’s reach within or beyond what someone can affordThe software is within the reach of the average business user.Origin reach1 Old English ræcan 