reach out (to)
Meaning(s)
1. attempt to make contact with somebody in order to offer or ask for something
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
reach out to/for friends/contacts/people
Analysis
To reach out to someone can mean to offer assistance or support to somebody. "I wanted to reach out after your accident and check if you needed anything." "Government agencies are reaching out to people affected by the disaster." To 'reach out' to someone can also mean to attempt to get their interest or attention. "We are reaching out to people who might like to help us form a neighbourhood watch group." "I am reaching out to people who want to make a change at this University." You can also use the phrasal verb 'reach out' when you are encouraging someone to seek help. "I think you should reach out to your family for their help with this." You can also use the 'reach out' to talk about communicating or making contact with someone. "I wanted to reach out and connect with you as we both seem to be tackling the same issues." This phrasal verb is useful for professional networking, particularly online and on social media.
Social Examples (Advance)
- If you don't reach out to people, they'll never know that you need help.
- If I were you, I would reach out for advice before making any definitive career moves.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- We have a meeting on Friday, so I'd like you to reach out to all the relevant departments to make sure everyone's there.
- Here's a list of all the people I think you should reach out to. Call or e-mail them all to see if they can help us.