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"Reach" is to arrive at a point (goal or place); "achieve" is to accomplish something that required sustained effort.
Side-by-side comparison
To arrive at a point, reach something physically or figuratively. Implies distance overcome.
We finally reached the summit after six hours of climbing.
Can you reach that shelf? It is too high for me.
The company reached one million users last month.
To accomplish something as a result of effort, talent, or perseverance. Implies personal merit.
She achieved her dream of becoming a surgeon after fifteen years of training.
He achieved top grades throughout his university career.
The team achieved something nobody had done before: a perfect season.
Common mistake
- •"She reached her dream" is grammatically acceptable but sounds like she simply arrived there; "she achieved her dream" communicates she accomplished it through effort.
- •For physical goals or concrete endpoints, "reach" is natural; for significant accomplishments, "achieve" carries more weight.
Trick to remember it
- •"Reach" + place/number/person/agreement (reach a place, reach an agreement, reach a milestone).
- •"Achieve" + accomplishment/result (achieve a goal, achieve success, achieve your potential).
- •Can you substitute "to arrive at"? = "reach." Can you substitute "to accomplish through effort"? = "achieve."
Quick rule
- •"Reach" = arrive at a point / get to.
- •"Achieve" = accomplish through effort / attain a result.
Did you know?
Compound words with ACHIEVE are very rich in English: "overachiever" (someone who accomplishes more than expected), "underachiever" (someone who accomplishes less than their potential), "high-achiever" (someone with outstanding accomplishments), "achievable" (able to be accomplished). The same richness does not apply to REACH in the same way: "overreacher" in English means someone who overextends their ambitions and loses what they had, the opposite sense to "overachiever." "Overreach" (to overextend with negative consequences) is almost the antonym of "overachieve" (to surpass expectations positively). The semantic asymmetry between the two verbs shows up even in their compounds.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She worked for years to _____ her dream of becoming a doctor.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
We finally _____ ed an agreement after three hours of negotiation.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
'Arrive' is intransitive and needs a preposition before the place; 'reach' and 'get to' go directly before the destination.
"Earn" is to gain through work or effort; "deserve" is to be worthy of something by merit.
Both can mean getting something, but in different ways: 'win' by beating others, 'earn' by working for it.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy