REACHING Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

reaching

verb

present participle of reach

as in handing

to shift possession of (something) from one person to another would you reach me the potatoes, please?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in contacting

to transmit information or requests to you can reach me by phone after 3:00 p.m. most days

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in influencing

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response the movie adaptation just didn't reach me the way the novel did

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reaching Unlike Webb, which suffered many years of delays before reaching space, Roman arrived at the launch pad nine months before NASA’s commitment to send it skyward by May 2027. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 Stronger winds are possible along the eastern Texas coast, with gusts potentially reaching tropical-storm strength near the coast and in Chambers County. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 The system also demonstrated robust real-world capabilities by operating reliably when powered by external heat sources reaching up to 130°C. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Orlando has struggled this season, going just 8-12-2 with 26 points after reaching the league’s semifinals last season. — Scott Turick, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Open-source analysis by conflict monitor Airwars, verified by weapons experts, maps a blast radius reaching more than 160 feet, raising sharp warnings about deploying the missile near sports halls and residential neighborhoods. — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Wong a year ago became the first man from Hong Kong to win an Open-era Grand Slam men’s singles match on the way to reaching the round of 32. — Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 But even after reaching 1,000 episodes, Big Brother isn’t exactly taking it easy. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Built in 1884 to serve the area’s booming silver mines, the narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 600 feet in just two miles, crossing the famous Devil’s Gate High Bridge before reaching the historic mining town of Silver Plume. — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reaching

Verb

That scoreboard is now misleading, because the same AI wave letting those companies shed jobs is handing thousands of capable people the time and the reason to build something of their own.

— Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
After missing the playoffs in 2025, Martin started off on a great note, handing a solid Mansfield program a 38-35 loss.

— Charles Baggarly August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of handing

Verb

The teacher was immediately placed on leave and prohibited from being on district property or contacting students, North Penn officials said in a statement posted on the school system's website.

— Laura Fay, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
For individual medical or law enforcement needs, the State Department recommends contacting local emergency services.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of contacting

Verb

More of their money is flowing toward influencing local elections, according to the data.

— Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
The tropical disturbance influencing Sunday's forecast is expected to move west, dropping the probability of weather violating launch criteria to about 30% — offering a 70% chance of acceptable conditions.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of influencing

Verb

Picture Angel Reese grabbing a rebound and passing to Caitlin Clark, who then fires down the floor to Paige Bueckers, who drives to the goal and fools the help defender with a dish to the best player on the planet.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
At their best, the offense was a sheer powerhouse—Dak Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns, ranking among the league's top passing leaders while feeding a dominant receiving corps.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of passing

Verb

Yankees fans might be getting flashbacks of Boone’s defense for Anthony Volpe, who similarly faded into inconsistency after emerging as the apparent heir to the franchise’s shortstop role.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
And with 11 billion tons of freight moved by truck in 2024, the stakes of getting safety right extend far beyond the competition floor.

— Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of getting

Verb

Steam tunnel work, a Greenbelt improvement project and a parking lot repaving are impacting the routes students and staff can use to get to class — whether by car, bike, scooter or foot.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026
Check your credit report for errors Review your credit reports with all three credit bureaus for any errors that could be negatively impacting you.

— Dan Avery, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of impacting

Verb

Running backs impressing The 49ers appear to have their best, and deepest, running back group since Christian McCaffrey’s arrival.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international joined on his 24th birthday, before making his Premier League debut just five days later, impressing at right-back during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Tyneside.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of impressing

Browse Nearby Words

reaches

reaching

reach-me-down

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Style

“Reaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reaching. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of reaching

verb

Example Sentences

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