“Arrive” vs. “Reach”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “arrive” and “reach”

  • "Arrive" is about getting to a destination, while "reach" is about the last stages of the process of getting there.
  • "Arrive" refers to the point when you actually get to the destination, while "reach" refers to the point when you get close up to arrival.
  • "Arrive" needs to be followed by a preposition, while "reach" does not need one.
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What is the definition of “arrive” and “reach”?

Arrive
  • To get to a destination or a goal.
  • The act of coming to a place, especially at the end of a journey.
  • To achieve a particular aim or success.
Reach
  • To approach or get to a destination, especially after a long journey.
  • To stretch out or extend to a certain point or level.
  • To communicate with someone successfully, especially by telephone or email.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Reach” is the more popular variant on the web.
Arrive
792,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I will arrive at the airport early to avoid any delays.
  2. She will arrive at the party late because of work.
  3. We arrived at our destination after a long journey.
More popular
Reach
2,710,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. We finally reached the finish line after running for hours.
  2. They will reach their fundraising goal with the help of donations.
  3. I need to reach the top shelf to get the book I'm looking for.
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