reaching
noun
Reaching — the active stretching toward, and finally attaining, a goal
Definition
Accomplishment of an objective
In depth
Reaching, like arrival, names the accomplishment of an objective, but the word emphasizes the active, often effortful extension toward that goal, the stretching motion by which something previously out of grasp finally comes within reach. It captures both the physical gesture of extending toward something and the figurative effort of working toward an aspiration.
Origin
The word descends from Old English raecan, to reach or stretch out, part of an old Germanic word family concerned with extension and grasp. Its figurative extension to abstract goals reflects a common linguistic pattern, in which the body's literal gestures of stretching and grasping become natural metaphors for ambition and aspiration.
Usage examples
"Reaching the agreement took months of careful, often frustrating negotiation."
"Her reaching for excellence, year after year, never quite satisfied even her own exacting standards."
"The child's first reaching for the cup, unsteady but determined, delighted everyone watching."
How to use it
Reaching pairs naturally with abstract goals — reaching an agreement, reaching a conclusion, reaching out — and suits prose emphasizing the effortful process of attainment rather than the simple fact of having arrived.
Related concepts
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