reached
reached — verb
- reachedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- reacheds3rd person singular
- reachedding-ing form
- reacheddedpast simple
1. to finally arrive at a destination after a journey, particularly one that is tir
to finally arrive at a destination after a journey, particularly one that is tiring or difficult
After walking for six hours, the hikers finally reached the mountain hut before nightfall.
finally reach + place after long journey
It took the rescue team nearly two days to reach the village buried by snow.
The train reached London just before midnight, and everyone on board was exhausted.
Yuki reached the airport with only ten minutes to spare before the flight departed.
When the explorers reached the riverbank, they stopped to fill their water bottles.
- leave
to go away from a place, the opposite of arriving
文法句型
reach + place/destination
用法筆記
Unlike 'arrive', 'reach' takes a direct object without a preposition. You reach a place, not 'reach to' or 'reach at' a place.
常見錯誤
2. to successfully make a choice, form a plan, or agree on something after thinking
to successfully make a choice, form a plan, or agree on something after thinking about it or discussing it with others
After three months of talks, the two companies finally reached an agreement on the merger.
reach + an agreement (formal collocation)
The jury reached a verdict after discussing the evidence for an entire week.
reach + a verdict (legal collocation)
My parents reached a decision about where we would spend the summer holidays.
Management and staff reached a compromise on the new working hours.
It took several meetings for the committee to reach a conclusion about the budget.
文法句型
reach + decision/agreement/conclusion
reach + abstract noun phrase
用法筆記
Used with abstract nouns like 'decision', 'agreement', 'conclusion', 'verdict', and 'compromise'. These are fixed collocations — you cannot replace 'reach' with 'arrive at' in formal writing, though they share the same meaning.
常見錯誤
3. to rise or go up to a particular point, amount, or standard — for example, a tem
to rise or go up to a particular point, amount, or standard — for example, a temperature of forty degrees, a speed of one hundred kilometres per hour, or a goal you have been working towards
Temperatures in the desert can reach forty-five degrees during the summer months.
reach + temperature (measurement pattern)
The company's profits reached ten million dollars for the first time last year.
reach + financial amount
Mei's piano skills have reached a level where she can perform in public concerts.
Unemployment in the region reached its highest point in twenty years.
The child's height now reaches his mother's shoulder.
- fall below
to be less than a particular level or amount
文法句型
reach + amount/level/target
reach + measurement
用法筆記
Often used with measurements (temperature, speed, price, height) or abstract goals. The focus is on the endpoint — the level that has been attained — not on the process of getting there.
4. to extend your arm or hand forward in order to take hold of something, touch it,
to extend your arm or hand forward in order to take hold of something, touch it, or pass it to someone else
A toddler reached for a cookie jar on a high shelf but missed.
reach for + object (intransitive, trying to get)
Amara reached across the table to hand the salt shaker to her grandmother.
The books were so high that David had to stand on tiptoes to reach them.
Kenta reached into his pocket and pulled out a small key wrapped in cloth.
The nurse reached out her hand to help the old man stand from the chair.
文法句型
reach + object
reach for + object
reach into + container
reach out + adverb
用法筆記
With 'reach for' (no direct object), the focus is on the stretching motion, and you may or may not actually get the item. With 'reach' + direct object, the focus is on successfully touching or grabbing it.
常見錯誤
5. to be long enough so that the top, bottom, or edge of something touches another
to be long enough so that the top, bottom, or edge of something touches another thing — for example, a curtain that hangs down to the floor, or a ladder that extends just below a windowsill
The long curtain reaches to the floor on both sides of the window.
reach + to + a point (physical extent)
Hugo's new desk is so tall that its top reaches just below the ceiling.
The roots of the old oak tree reach deep into the soil beneath the house.
When the river rises, the water reaches the bottom of the wooden bridge.
The ladder was too short and did not reach the second-floor balcony.
- fall short of
to not be long enough to touch something
文法句型
reach + something (physical extent)
reach as far as + place
用法筆記
The subject of this sense is an object or thing (not a person). The focus is on length, height, or physical extension, not on movement. Compare with sense 4, where a person stretches to touch something.
6. to get in touch with someone in another location, especially by phone, email, or
to get in touch with someone in another location, especially by phone, email, or other communication method
You can reach Dr. Nakamura at his office between nine and five on weekdays.
reach + someone + at + place/time
Fatima tried to reach her brother by phone, but his line was busy all evening.
reach + someone + by phone
Hotel guests can reach the front desk by pressing zero on their room phone.
We tried to reach the manager through email, but she was travelling in Europe.
Liam reached his cousin in Australia using a video call on his phone.
- contact
more general than 'reach'; works for any communication method
- get through to
informal; implies difficulty in connecting
文法句型
reach + someone + by phone/email
reach + someone + at + number/address
用法筆記
Common in both formal and informal contexts when giving contact details. The object is always a person, group, or organisation — you cannot 'reach' a place in this sense.
常見錯誤
7. to understand what someone is thinking or feeling and to communicate with them i
to understand what someone is thinking or feeling and to communicate with them in a way that creates a real emotional or intellectual connection
Kenji found it hard to reach his teenage daughter after moving to a new city.
reach + family member for emotional connection
Isabela reached her anxious students by sharing funny stories from her own childhood.
The counsellor helped the couple reach each other after months of cold silence.
The two communities reached one another through a joint art festival in the town square.
Benjamin tried to reach his younger brother through painting, but the boy preferred sports.
- connect with
less formal, broader — can mean any kind of rapport
- relate to
focuses on understanding someone's feelings or experience
- get through to
informal; implies previous difficulty in being understood
文法句型
reach + person
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or group trying to create a bond; the object is another person or group. Distinguish from sense 6, which is about making contact by phone or email — this sense is about emotional or intellectual connection.
常見錯誤
8. to pick something up and pass it to someone who is close enough to take it
to pick something up and pass it to someone who is close enough to take it
Benjamin reached the salt shaker to his father without looking up from his book.
reach + object + to + person
The flight attendant reached a warm blanket to the passenger shivering in seat 14B.
The librarian reached the heavy atlas down to the little girl standing on her toes.
Tuan reached his phone to the cashier so she could scan the membership code.
Anong reached a cup of tea to her grandmother, who took it with a smile.
文法句型
reach + something + to + someone
用法筆記
Common in everyday physical contexts. The subject picks up or takes hold of the object first, then passes it. Often used with 'to + recipient' or directional words like 'down', 'across', 'over'.
常見錯誤
9. to make a great and determined effort to achieve something difficult or importan
to make a great and determined effort to achieve something difficult or important, especially over a sustained period
Kenji reached for the top position at the firm, working late nights for three years.
reach for + ambition/position
Isabela reached for a full scholarship, studying every evening despite her exhaustion.
The young pianist reached for perfection, practising the same piece until her fingers ached.
Benjamin reached for a better life when he opened his small restaurant with no savings.
The team reached for the national championship, running drills every morning before class.
- strive for
very similar in meaning and formality; slightly more common in writing
- aim for
less intense; focuses on setting a target rather than sustained effort
- aspire to
more formal; often used for long-term life goals
- push for
informal; suggests active effort to make something happen
文法句型
reach for + goal
reach after + ambition
用法筆記
Intransitive — always followed by 'for' or, less commonly, 'after'. Often describes a long-term ambition rather than a brief attempt. Common in formal or literary contexts.