reached an agreement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reached an agreement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when two or more parties come to an understanding about a situation or issue. For example, "After hours of negotiation, the two sides finally reached an agreement on the terms of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"If Inter reached an agreement with Turkey?

Independent

But we have reached an agreement".

The New York Times

By late December, they reached an agreement.

The New York Times - Sports

So we reached an agreement.

The New York Times - Magazine

reached an agreement in principle. . . .

The New Yorker

Scientists have reached an agreement.

The Guardian

They eventually reached an agreement.

The New York Times

And they had reached an agreement.

Cornell University

Imagine that you've just reached an agreement.

Harvard University

Assume that you've just reached an agreement.

Harvard University

Mike Dunleavy Jr. reached an agreement with the Bucks.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reached an agreement", specify the subject matter of the agreement for clarity. For example, "reached an agreement on the budget" is clearer than just "reached an agreement".

Common error

Avoid using the past perfect tense unnecessarily with "reached an agreement". It's usually sufficient to use the simple past tense unless you need to emphasize that the agreement happened before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reached an agreement" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the completion of a negotiation or discussion process leading to a mutual understanding or settlement. This is evident in Ludwig examples where it describes finalized business deals, political understandings, and personal settlements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

18%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reached an agreement" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that two or more parties have come to a mutual understanding after negotiations. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide array of contexts, from News & Media to academic discussions. While alternatives like "came to terms" or "struck a deal" exist, using "reached an agreement" effectively conveys the sense of resolution and closure. Remember to specify the subject matter of the agreement for maximum clarity, and avoid unnecessary use of the past perfect tense. This phrase is very frequent, with more than 50 examples found from reliable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came to terms

This alternative focuses on the negotiation aspect and the final terms settled.

arrived at a consensus

This implies a general agreement among a group, often after discussion.

struck a deal

This is a more informal way of saying an agreement was made, often implying a negotiation.

settled on a compromise

This suggests that both parties had to concede some points to reach the agreement.

concluded an arrangement

This is a more formal way of indicating an agreement, often used in business contexts.

came to a settlement

This is commonly used in legal or financial contexts, implying resolution.

found common ground

This emphasizes the shared interests that enabled the agreement.

finalized a pact

Suggests a formal and binding agreement, often between organizations or nations.

determined a resolution

This implies solving a problem or dispute by reaching an agreement.

sealed a bargain

This is a more figurative and sometimes old-fashioned way of saying an agreement was finalized.

FAQs

What does "reached an agreement" mean?

The phrase "reached an agreement" means that two or more parties have come to a mutual understanding or settlement on a particular matter after discussion or negotiation.

How to use "reached an agreement" in a sentence?

You can use "reached an agreement" in a sentence like this: "After several hours of negotiations, the company and the union "reached an agreement" on the new contract terms."

What can I say instead of "reached an agreement"?

You can use alternatives like "came to terms", "arrived at a consensus", or "struck a deal" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "reached an agreement" or "came to an agreement"?

Both "reached an agreement" and "came to an agreement" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Reached an agreement" is slightly more common.