# reach

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹiːt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #1,233

## Definitions
1. To extend, stretch, or thrust out (for example a limb or object held in the hand).
2. To give to someone by stretching out a limb, especially the hand; to give with the hand; to pass to another person; to hand over.
3. To stretch out the hand.
4. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; to extend some part of the body, or something held, so as to touch, strike, grasp, etc.
5. To strike or touch.
6. To extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate to; to pierce, or cut.
7. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent.
8. To arrive at (a place) by effort of any kind.
9. To make contact with.
10. To connect with (someone) on an emotional level, making them receptive of (one); to get through to (someone).
11. To arrive at a particular destination.
12. To continue living until or up to (a certain age).
13. To understand; to comprehend.
14. To strain after something; to make (sometimes futile or pretentious) efforts.
15. To extend in dimension, time etc.; to stretch out continuously (past, beyond, above, from etc. something).
16. To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the wind nearly abeam.
17. To arrive at a particular destination, especially to join someone; to meet up.

## Etymology
From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”).

## Easily confused with
- **rec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-rec)
- **real** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-real)
- **read** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-read)
- **rich** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-rich)
- **rear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-rear)
- **reap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reap)
- **ready** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-ready)
- **reads** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reads)
- **react** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-react)
- **realm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-realm)
- **Reich** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reich)
- **roach** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-roach)
- **Reece** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reece)
- **Reade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reade)
- **reams** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reams)
- **reacts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reacts)
- **reached** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reached)
- **reaches** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-reaches)
- **rematch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-rematch)
- **rewatch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reach-vs-rewatch)

## Common misspellings (7)
`erach`, `raech`, `reacch`, `reachh`, `reahc`, `recah`, `rreach`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reach