Meaning & Definition of Reach in English

1. The limits within which something can be effective

• "Range of motion"

• "He was beyond the reach of their fire"

2. An area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

• "A piano has a greater range than the human voice"

• "The ambit of municipal legislation"

• "Within the compass of this article"

• "Within the scope of an investigation"

• "Outside the reach of the law"

• "In the political orbit of a world power"

3. The act of physically reaching or thrusting out

4. The limit of capability

• "Within the compass of education"

1. Reach a destination, either real or abstract

• "We hit detroit by noon"

• "The water reached the doorstep"

• "We barely made it to the finish line"

• "I have to hit the mac machine before the weekend starts"

2. Reach a point in time, or a certain state or level

• "The thermometer hit 100 degrees"

• "This car can reach a speed of 140 miles per hour"

3. Move forward or upward in order to touch

• Also in a metaphorical sense

• "Government reaches out to the people"

4. Be in or establish communication with

• "Our advertisements reach millions"

• "He never contacted his children after he emigrated to australia"

5. To gain with effort

• "She achieved her goal despite setbacks"

6. To extend as far as

• "The sunlight reached the wall"

• "Can he reach?" "the chair must not touch the wall"

7. Reach a goal, e.g., "make the first team"

• "We made it!"

• "She may not make the grade"

8. Place into the hands or custody of

• "Hand me the spoon, please"

• "Turn the files over to me, please"

• "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers"

9. To exert much effort or energy

• "Straining our ears to hear"