reach out

/riːtʃ aʊt/◆phrasal verb

to make contact or communicate

She decided to reach out to her old friend after years of silence.

She decided to contact her old friend after years of silence.

◆ What It Really Means

To initiate contact or communication with someone, often with the intention of reconnecting, offering help, or starting a conversation.

¶ Literal Meaning

To physically extend one's hand or arm toward someone or something outside of oneself.

Literal Breakdown

reachto extend one's hand or arm+outtoward the outside

◇ Mental Image

The mental image is of extending one's hand toward someone else, symbolizing the effort to connect or communicate.

◈ When to Use

A person who has lost touch with a friend might decide to 'reach out' by sending a message or calling to reconnect.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase is widely used in English-speaking cultures to describe the act of making contact, whether for personal or professional reasons. It emphasizes the proactive nature of the action.

informal

To make contact or communicate with someone, often to offer help, reconnect, or initiate a conversation.

The company reached out to potential clients to discuss a new project.

The company contacted potential clients to discuss a new project.

If you need support, don't hesitate to reach out.

If you need support, don't hesitate to contact us.

This phrase is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts to indicate initiating contact.

Collocations

reach out to someoneto contact or communicate with someone

Synonyms

contact get in touch communicate with

Antonyms

ignore avoid disconnect

Related Phrases

get in touchphrase

to make contact with someone

touch basephrase

to make contact briefly to check in

Pro Tip

Usage in Professional Settings

In business contexts, 'reach out' is often used to initiate professional communication, such as discussing a project or offering support.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While 'reach out' is common, overusing it in formal writing can make your language seem repetitive. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like 'contact' or 'get in touch'.

Word Origin

The phrase combines the verb 'reach' (to extend or extend oneself) with the preposition 'out' (toward someone or something). Together, they convey the idea of extending oneself to make contact.

Usage Notes

This phrase is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It often implies a proactive effort to connect with someone.

Word Breakdown

reach

to extend or extend oneself

root

out

toward someone or something

preposition

English Dictionary

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