reached

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reached" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to arrive or achieve something, or to stretch to a point. For example: "She reached the top of the mountain after a long climb."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These reached boiling point in the western city of Zhanaozen in late 2011 when authorities opened fire on striking workers, leaving at least 14 dead.

The Guardian

Rebel commanders are seeking assurances from Washington that if they sign a peace deal with the Colombian government, the United States will not be an obstacle to implementing agreements reached at the table.

The Guardian

But a spokesman for the Malaysian government said the judges had reached their verdict only after considering all the evidence "in a balanced and objective manner".

The Guardian

With only an outline sketch of an agreement on the table, many of Europe's most senior policymakers are of the opinion that a crisis point will be reached and that Athens's radical left Syriza government will be forced to either capitulate to Brussels or quit the euro.

The Guardian

But there's a simple explanation: we have reached the part of the campaign where politicians and the media are all dog-tired, have no idea which bit of the country they're in today and have a form of snow-blindness from the blizzard of policies the parties have pumped out.

The Guardian

In her only French Open junior appearance in 2013, she reached the semi-finals, losing to now-top-40 player Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

The Guardian - Sport

Just before Easter, News Corp Australia reached a confidential settlement with the human rights lawyer George Newhouse over an allegedly defamatory article by its star columnist and host of Ten's The Bolt Report, Andrew Bolt.

The Guardian

The 'canary' yellow with green side panels somehow made an even greater sight of the brawny specimens donning Australian caps (and also provided a colourful back-drop to the underarm incident, it must be said), while powder blue, maroon, lime green and beige surely reached their zenith.

The Guardian - Sport

On a muggy, absorbing, oddly processional night Barcelona reached their eighth European Cup final with their first win in Munich, cruising past the champions of Germany without ever really having to thrum up through the gears.

The Guardian - Sport

These murders, in effect reprisals against local Maoist guerrillas, who have also killed many, reached a bloody climax with the deaths of 58 men, women and children with no connection to extremism in the village of Lakshman Bathe in 1998.

The Guardian

If I do undergo transplant surgery, I know it will mean that someone in his or her darkest moments of loss has reached out to a stranger and offered them a future with the gift of their loved one's organs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reached" to indicate achievement, consider the nuance you want to convey. "Attained" suggests a more formal or significant accomplishment than "reached".

Common error

Avoid using "reached to" when "reached" is sufficient. For instance, say "He reached the top" instead of "He reached to the top".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reached" is a verb in the past tense, indicating the completion of an action, such as arriving at a destination or achieving a goal. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Sports

18%

Travel

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "reached" functions primarily as a past tense verb, signifying the completion of an action like arriving or achieving. As noted by Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and common, frequently appearing in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, consider the specific nuance when selecting synonyms like "arrived at" or "attained". Remember to avoid the redundant "reached to" and ensure clarity in your writing by leveraging the examples provided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrived at

Replaces "reached" with a focus on the act of arriving.

attained

Emphasizes the achievement aspect of "reached".

achieved

Similar to "attained", highlighting accomplishment.

got to

An informal alternative to "reached", focusing on arrival.

arrived

A more concise alternative, focusing solely on the act of arriving.

made it to

Emphasizes effort in getting to a destination.

extended to

Focuses on the physical stretching or spanning of something.

culminated in

Highlights the final result or outcome.

progressed to

Highlights the advancement toward a goal.

contacted

Implies establishing communication with someone.

FAQs

How to use "reached" in a sentence?

You can use "reached" to describe physically arriving at a location, such as "They reached the summit after a long hike". It can also describe attaining a goal, such as "She reached her fundraising target".

What can I say instead of "reached"?

You can use alternatives like "arrived at", "attained", or "achieved" depending on the context.

When should I use "reached" versus "arrived at"?

"Reached" is a more general term, while "arrived at" specifically refers to the act of reaching a destination. You might say "They reached an agreement" but "They arrived at the hotel".

Is it correct to say "reached to" instead of "reached"?

In most cases, "reached" is sufficient. Using "reached to" can be redundant. For example, use "He reached the shelf" instead of "He reached to the shelf".