reached

Reached is the past tense and past participle of the English verb reach. It is used to indicate that something has extended to a certain distance or extent, or that a journey or effort has brought someone or something to a destination, a goal, or a point of contact. It can describe physical movement, as in arriving at a place, or abstract attainment, as in achieving an objective or understanding.

The verb reach can be transitive or intransitive. Intransitive uses describe movement toward or arrival at a location: “We reached the hill at sunset.” Transitive uses take an object and express attainment or contact: “They reached a decision,” “She reached for the book.” The form reached also appears in passive constructions: “The village was reached after a long ride.” In phrases, reach combines with prepositions to express various meanings, such as “within reach,” “reach out to someone,” or “reach an agreement.”

Common examples illustrate its range: The expedition reached the summit after days of climbing. Negotiators reached an agreement after hours of talks. The phone line finally reached us just before midnight. Figurative uses include reaching a new level of performance or reach in influence.

Etymology traces the word to Old English and other Germanic roots, with cognates in related languages that express extending or attaining. The related noun reach denotes the extent or scope of something, while reached remains the past tense and participle form used in describing completed actions.