reaching

8 definitions • 16 examples

present participle of

to arrive at a place, especially after spending a long time or a lot of effort travelling:

We won't reach Miami until five or six o'clock.

They finally reached the coast after five weeks sailing.

News of his accident had only just reached us.

to make a decision, agreement, etc. about something:

She reached the conclusion that there was no more she could do.

to get to a particular level, especially a high one:

The temperature is expected to reach 30°C today.

He's just reached the grand old age of 95.

I've reached the point where I'm not going to put up with her criticisms of me any more.

to stretch out your arm in order to get or touch something:

She's grown so tall that she can reach the door handle now.

He reached for the phone and knocked over a glass.

The child reached down/out/over and picked up the kitten.

He reached his hand out for the money.

[ + two objects ] UK Can you reach me (down) that book?

If an object reaches something, the top or bottom of it touches that thing:

The ladder won't quite reach the top of the wall.

She was wearing a dress that reached (to) her ankles.

to communicate with someone in a different place, especially by phone or email:

I've been trying to reach you on the phone all day.

to understand and communicate with someone:

He's a strange child and his teachers find it difficult to reach him.