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Word: Reach
Pronunciation: /ɹiːtʃ/
(IPA – single syllable, stress on main syllable)
Morphology:
– Verb Forms: reach (base), reaches (3rd person singular), reaching (present participle/gerund), reached/raught (past tense & past participle)
– Noun Forms: reach (singular), reaches (plural)
Core Meaning: To extend or be able to extend a limb or object so as to touch or grasp something distant; the extent of such an extension.
Grammar Notes
- Homophone: “Reech” (meaning rotting seaweed or naval slang for fish heads) – easy mix-up!
- Past Tense: “Reached” is standard. “Raught” exists but is obsolete outside some dialects.
- Figurative Use: Common for achieving goals, influencing, or connecting emotionally.
Quick Facts & Learning Tips
- Mind the Card: “Reach” is tricky because it was a strong verb in Old English (“rǣcan” -> “rahte” -> “reached”). This explains the irregular past tense “raught”.
- Action Verb: Perfect for visualization. Picture a cat reaching for a knotted string or a ladder reaching to the roof.
- Expand Your Reach: Notice how “reach” appears in powerful phrases: “reach out,” “reach a decision,” “reach your goals,” “out of reach,” “within reach.”
Key Meanings & Examples
1. To Touch With an Extension of Limb or Object (Physical Action)
Simple: She reached for her coffee mug.
Medium: Climbers must reach for subtle handholds high on the rock face.
Complex: To disable the laser grid, the thief had to reach across the narrow gap using a telescoping pole.
2. To Attain or Arrive (Goal/Place)
Simple: The rocket will reach orbit.
Medium: After years of hard work, he was finally able to reach his sales targets.
Complex: While initial reports suggested the probe had reached the nearest star system, JPL clarified that it was merely approaching its outer limits.
3. To Extend Influence or Contact (Figurative)
Simple: Social media allows brands to reach a global audience.
Medium: The teacher tried to reach the disengaged student through their shared interest in music.
Complex: Despite our efforts to *reach* the isolated community with aid, the remoteness and political instability made consistent delivery impossible.
4. Noun: The Act or State of Extending / The Distance Covered
Simple: The length of the bridge allows vehicles to reach both sides.
Medium: The boxer’s punch did reach its target but lacked the power to knock it out.
Complex: Sailors measure a vessel’s progress not just by nautical miles, but by ‘reaches’ – the straight segments between directional changes.
Related Vocabulary
- Synonyms (Verb): stretch, extend, touch, attain, achieve, arrive at, obtain
- Antonyms (Verb): withdraw, retreat, keep back, fail to attain
- Common Combinations: get within reach, out of reach, reach out to (someone), reach a decision/agreement/consensus, reach your limit, reach the highest levels.
Mini-Tasks
- Create a Sentence: Use “reach” (verb) in a sentence about achieving a personal goal.
- Find the Synonym: Which word means ‘to touch by extending’, similar to ‘reach’? (Hint: Stretch, touch, grasp)
- Spot the Noun: In this sentence, identify the noun “reach”: “The lawyer gave evidence within the court’s reach.”
- Vocabulary Blend: Combine ‘reach’ and an antonym you know to describe a failed attempt.
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