Reach — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈrēch/

Meaning & Definition of Reach

Reach (verb)

  1. to stretch out, extend
  2. thrust
  3. to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body (such as a hand) or an object

Reach (noun)

  1. a continuous stretch or expanse; especially, a straight portion of a stream or river
  2. the action or an act of reaching
  3. an individual part of a progression or journey

Reach (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to shift possession of (something) from one person to another

    "would you reach me the potatoes, please?"

    similar: buck, hand, hand over, pass, transfer
    related: relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield

  2. to transmit information or requests to

    "you can reach me by phone after 3:00 p.m. most days"

    similar: address, communicate (with), contact, get, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with)
    related: get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up), buzz, call, phone, ring (up) (chiefly British), telephone, keep up (with)

  3. to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

    "the movie adaptation just didn't reach me the way the novel did"

    similar: affect, impact, impress, influence, move, strike, sway, tell (on), touch, get to
    related: carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall, ravish, transport, bias, color, inspire, stir, engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce, afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring, allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm

Reach (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends

    "she's got a good memory, but critical thinking seems to be beyond her reach"

    similar: ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, realm, scope, sweep, width
    related: gamut, spectrum, spread, bailiwick, circle, demesne, department, discipline, domain, element, fief, fiefdom, field, province, region, specialty, sphere, terrain, frontier, horizon, panorama

  2. the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement

    "there are still only a few women in the upper reaches of the profession"

    similar: degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, rank, ranking, rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum
    related: condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating

  3. a wide space or area

    "a wide reach of woods"

    similar: breadth, distance, expanse, expansion, extent, field, length, plain, sheet, spread, stretch, waste
    related: domain, sphere, territory, compass, range, scope, sweep, gamut, scale, spectrum, depth, emptiness, void, extension, latitude, span, amplitude, immensity, magnitude

Related Entry: Reach-me-down (adjective)

Reach-me-down is a different word from Reach. The synonyms below are for reach-me-down, not for reach.

  1. as in pre-owned, secondhand

    similar: hand-me-down, pre-owned, secondhand, old, worn, assumed, borrowed
    opposite: bespoke, brand-new, custom, customized, custom-made, new, tailored, tailor-made, unused

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Reach

The most common words with a similar meaning to Reach:

buck, hand, hand over, pass, transfer, address, communicate (with), contact, get, affect, impact, impress, influence, move, strike, sway, tell (on), touch, get hold of, get in touch with, touch base (with), get to, ambit, amplitude, breadth, compass, confines, dimension(s), extent, range, realm, scope, sweep, width, degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position

Related Words for Reach

relay, bear, carry, finger, handle, paw, cede, deliver, give, give up, release, relinquish, render, surrender, turn over, yield, get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up)

Near Antonyms of Reach

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm

Word Forms of Reach

Inflections: reached, reaching, reaches

Derived words: reachable (adjective), reacher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Reach

Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣcan; akin to Old High German reichen to reach, Lithuanian raižytis to stretch oneself

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Reach

Words & Phrases Containing Reach

reach-me-down, reach a compromise, reach a conclusion, reach a consensus, reach for, reach for the stars, reach its conclusion, reach new depths

Frequently Asked Questions about Reach

What does "Reach" mean?

"Reach" means to stretch out, extend. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to stretch out, extend. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Reach"?

Other words for "Reach" include buck, hand, hand over, pass, transfer, address, communicate (with) and contact. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Reach" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Reach"?

There are 176 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Reach". Common alternatives include buck, hand, hand over, pass, transfer, address, communicate (with), contact, get and affect.

How do you use "Reach" in a sentence?

Examples of "Reach" in a sentence: "would you reach me the potatoes, please?"; "you can reach me by phone after 3:00 p.m. most days"; "the movie adaptation just didn't reach me the way the novel did".

Is "Reach" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Reach" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Reach" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Reach" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Reach"?

"Reach" is pronounced /ˈrēch/.

What is the origin of the word "Reach"?

"Reach" comes from Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣcan; akin to Old High German reichen to reach, Lithuanian raižytis to stretch oneself. First known use: before 12th centuryt.