reached him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reached him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a message, communication, or understanding has successfully arrived at a person. Example: "After several attempts, I finally reached him with my message about the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

reached him.

The New Yorker

"Service reached him.

The New York Times

Alex had reached him.

The New Yorker

Perhaps this information never reached him.

The New York Times - Sports

The crew had reached him in time.

The New York Times

What services might have reached him?

The New York Times

When Eykelboom reached him, neither said anything.

The New Yorker

It was and reached him.

The New York Times - Arts

At least this letter reached him.

The Guardian

When I reached him by phone, he seemed nervous.

The New Yorker

The words were torn before they reached him, irrecoverable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

"Reached him" can imply a physical arrival or a successful attempt at communication. Clarify the context if ambiguity exists.

Common error

Don't assume "reached him" always implies communication. It can also mean physical arrival. Ensure the context clarifies your intended meaning to avoid confusing your reader. Using a more specific verb, like "contacted" or "approached", can prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reached him" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "reached" is the verb and "him" is the object pronoun. It signifies the completion of an action, either physical or communicative, targeting a specific individual. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, indicating successful contact or arrival.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

3%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reached him" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that signifies successful contact or arrival, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its grammatical function is that of a verb phrase, and its communicative purpose is to indicate that contact has been established with a particular person. While generally neutral in register, its formality can shift depending on the context. The phrase is frequently found in news and media, reflecting its broad applicability. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contacted him

Focuses specifically on establishing communication with him.

Got in touch with him

Implies initiating communication, often after some effort.

Connected with him

Suggests a successful establishment of a relationship or understanding.

Got through to him

Emphasizes successfully conveying a message or idea despite potential barriers.

Made contact with him

A more formal way of saying contacted him.

Apprised him

Indicates informing him of something specific.

Communicated with him

A more general term for any form of communication.

Caught up with him

Implies meeting him, usually after a period of separation.

Found him

Suggests locating him, potentially after a search.

Met him

Simply indicates encountering or coming into the presence of him.

FAQs

How can I use "reached him" in a sentence?

You can use "reached him" to indicate successful communication, as in, "I finally reached him on the phone after several attempts". It can also mean physically arriving at someone's location, like, "The paramedics reached him within minutes of the accident".

What can I say instead of "reached him"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "contacted him", "got in touch with him", or "got through to him".

Is it correct to say "I have reached him"?

Yes, "I have reached him" is grammatically correct. It uses the present perfect tense to indicate that you have successfully made contact with him at some point in the past.

What is the difference between "reached him" and "approached him"?

"Reached him" implies successful contact or arrival, while "approached him" simply means getting closer or moving towards him. You can approach someone without necessarily reaching them or making contact.