Achieve vs Reach

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Achieve

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Reach

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

	Achieve	Reach
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/riːtʃ/","/ˈriːtʃɪz/","/riːtʃt/","/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/riːtʃ/","/ˈriːtʃɪz/","/riːtʃt/","/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To successfully reach a goal or complete something.	to stretch out your hand to grab something or to arrive at a place
Example	She worked hard to achieve her goals.	I can reach the top shelf if I stand on my tiptoes.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	A2
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	fail to, be able to, try to, fail to, be able to, try to	eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, gingerly, hesitantly, tentatively, for, inside, into, easily, almost, nearly, can, easily, almost, nearly, can
Antonyms	fail, miss, lose	withdraw, recede
Common mistakes	Confused with 'complete' or 'accomplish', Using 'achieve' with non-count nouns incorrectly, Mistakenly using 'achieve' in informal settings	Confused with 'preach' — mixing up meanings during speech., Using 'reach' without an object when it's needed, like saying 'I will reach' instead of 'I will reach the goal'.
Usage notes	Use 'achieve' when talking about completing a goal or success in a task. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations.	Use 'reach' when talking about getting to a destination or getting something physically. Avoid in overly formal writing; use alternatives like 'arrive' or 'achieve'.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.

Achieve

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

We must reach the woods of Lothlórien.

Succession › S1 E1

We've been trying to reach you. Um...

And the only one who could ever reach me

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

We must reach the woods of Lothlórien.

Succession › S1 E1

We've been trying to reach you. Um...

Reach

Frequently asked questions: Achieve vs Reach

What's the difference between Achieve and Reach?

Achieve: To successfully reach a goal or complete something. Reach: to stretch out your hand to grab something or to arrive at a place

Are Achieve and Reach the same CEFR level?

Achieve: A2, Reach: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Achieve and Reach?

Achieve: verb, Reach: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Achieve: She worked hard to achieve her goals. Reach: I can reach the top shelf if I stand on my tiptoes.

Can I use Achieve and Reach interchangeably?

Not always. Achieve and Reach are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.