be within reach of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be within reach of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something is accessible or attainable. Example: "The prize was finally within reach of the competitors." Alternative expressions include "be accessible to" and "be attainable by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

He said he could not specify what affordable meant, only that they would be "within reach of young people who want to live and work in Manchester".

The Guardian

To compete, higher education must be within reach of every American.

The Guardian

Just as the man seems to be within reach of safety, for example, the weather turns.

The New Yorker

He was being transferred to Paris so that he would be within reach of Warsaw.

The New Yorker

We present here a simple geometric argument that would be within reach of Alice quite soon.

The New York Times

For example, if you're frying, you must be within reach of the freezer".

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

(The defense secretary said in July that the United States was "within reach of strategically defeating Al Qaeda").

The New York Times

An Oxford museum says it is "within reach" of preventing an oil sketch worth millions from leaving the UK.

BBC

They are within reach of the police.

The Guardian

Suddenly betting was within reach of everyone.

The Guardian - Sport

The quintessence of his London is within reach of Kings Cross Station.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place the target of the reach immediately after the preposition "of" to maintain clear sentence flow.

Common error

Do not add redundant words like "close" before "within" (e.g., "be close within reach of"). The word "within" already carries the necessary sense of proximity and inclusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be within reach of" functions as a statical verb phrase that defines a relationship between a subject and a boundary of accessibility. It combines the copula "be" with a prepositional phrase to indicate state rather than action. Ludwig AI examples show it is used to predicate the accessibility of nouns ranging from physical objects to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be within reach of" is an essential idiomatic tool for expressing that something is attainable, accessible or physically near. Ludwig AI results demonstrate that it is a favorite among journalists and researchers for discussing topics like economic opportunity, technological progress and safety. It is grammatically robust and provides a clear, professional way to describe the boundary of what is possible. Whether you are writing a policy proposal or a news article, using "be within reach of" helps convey a sense of realistic potential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be within one's grasp

Uses a more vivid metaphor for something that is almost achieved or acquired

be accessible to

Focuses on the ease of entry or use for a specific group of people

be attainable by

Specifically relates to goals, standards or achievements that can be reached

be in range of

Often used in technical, military or spatial contexts regarding limits

be within striking distance of

Implies being very close to achieving a victory or a specific numerical target

be affordable for

Narrows the meaning to financial accessibility and purchasing power

be close to

A more general and less formal way to describe proximity

be available to

Indicates that something is ready for use or can be obtained

be achievable for

Emphasizes the capability of the subject to complete a task

be within sight of

Suggests being close enough to see the goal, though not necessarily touch it

FAQs

How do I use "be within reach of" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical access, like "The tools should be within reach of the technician", or metaphorical access, such as "Higher education must be within reach of every citizen".

What can I say instead of "be within reach of"?

Depending on your context, you might use alternatives like "<a href="/s/be+accessible+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be accessible to", "<a href="/s/be+attainable+by" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be attainable by" or "<a href="/s/be+available+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be available to".

Is "be within reach of" formal?

Yes, it is considered a neutral to formal expression. It is frequently found in academic journals, professional reports and quality journalism.

What is the difference between "be within reach of" and "be within sight of"?

While both imply proximity, "<a href="/s/be+within+reach+of" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be within reach of" suggests the ability to touch, obtain or achieve something, whereas "<a href="/s/be+within+sight+of" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be within sight of" only means something is visible or very near, without necessarily being attainable yet.