"Reach" is to arrive at a point (goal or place); "achieve" is to accomplish something that required sustained effort.
To arrive at a point, reach something physically or figuratively. Implies distance overcome.
We finally reached the summit after six hours of climbing.
Finalmente llegamos a la cima despues de seis horas de escalada.
Can you reach that shelf? It is too high for me.
¿Puedes alcanzar ese estante? Esta demasiado alto para mi.
The company reached one million users last month.
La empresa llego al millon de usuarios el mes pasado.
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.
Ella logro su sueno de convertirse en cirujana despues de quince anos de formacion.
He achieved top grades throughout his university career.
El obtuvo las mejores notas durante toda su carrera universitaria.
The team achieved something nobody had done before: a perfect season.
El equipo logro algo que nadie habia hecho antes: una temporada perfecta.
Common mistake
Using only "reach" for personal accomplishments when "achieve" better communicates the effort involved. "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 everyday life and physical goals, "reach" is natural. For significant accomplishments that required hard work, "achieve" carries more weight and acknowledges the effort.
Trick to remember it
Natural collocations: "reach" + place/number/person/agreement (reach a place, reach a milestone, reach an agreement, reach someone by phone). "Achieve" + accomplishment/result (achieve a goal, achieve success, achieve results, achieve your potential). If you can replace the word with "to arrive at", use "reach". If you can replace it with "to accomplish through effort", use "achieve".
Quick rule
Reach = arrive at a point / get to. Achieve = accomplish through effort / attain a result.
Did you know?
"Overachiever" (someone who accomplishes more than expected) and "underachiever" (someone who accomplishes less than their potential) are common words in educational and professional English. Interestingly, "overreach" in English means to go too far and lose what you had (to overextend with negative consequences) — the exact opposite of "overachieve".
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
After years of hard work, she _____ her goal of running a marathon.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Can you _____ the top shelf? I cannot get up there without a ladder.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Reach = arrive at a point / get to. Achieve = accomplish through effort / attain a result.
Using only "reach" for personal accomplishments when "achieve" better communicates the effort involved. "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 everyday life and physical goals, "reach" is natural. For significant accomplishments that required hard work, "achieve" carries more weight and acknowledges the effort.
Natural collocations: "reach" + place/number/person/agreement (reach a place, reach a milestone, reach an agreement, reach someone by phone). "Achieve" + accomplishment/result (achieve a goal, achieve success, achieve results, achieve your potential). If you can replace the word with "to arrive at", use "reach". If you can replace it with "to accomplish through effort", use "achieve".
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy