# reaching

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɹiːt͡ʃɪŋ/ · frequency rank #3,256

## Definitions
1. present participle and gerund of reach

## Etymology
From Middle English reching, rechyng, recchinge, rechand, from Old English *rǣċende and reċċende (“reaching”), from Proto-Germanic *raikijandz, present participle of *raikijaną (“to stretch, reach”) and Proto-Germanic *rakjandz, present participle of *rakjaną (“to stretch, straighten”). Equivalent to reach + -ing.

## Easily confused with
- **reading** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reaching-vs-reading)
- **rearing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reaching-vs-rearing)
- **reaping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reaching-vs-reaping)
- **rescuing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reaching-vs-rescuing)
- **rewatching** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reaching-vs-rewatching)
- **racing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racing-vs-reaching)
- **racking** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racking-vs-reaching)
- **ranching** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ranching-vs-reaching)

## Common misspellings (12)
`eraching`, `raeching`, `reacching`, `reachhing`, `reachign`, `reachingg`, `reachinng`, `reachnig`, `reacihng`, `reahcing`, `recahing`, `rreaching`

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