outreach

American  

[out-reech, out-reech] / ˌaʊtˈritʃ, ˈaʊtˌritʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to reach beyond; exceed.

   The demand has outreached our supply.

2. Archaic. to reach out; extend.

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verb (used without object)

1. to reach out.

noun

1. an act or instance of reaching out.

2. length or extent of reach.

3. the act of extending services, benefits, etc., to a wider section of the population, as in community work.

adjective

1. concerned with extending community services, benefits, etc..

   an educational outreach program.

outreach British  

verb

1. (tr) to surpass in reach

2. (tr) to go beyond

3. to reach or cause to reach out

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noun

1. the act or process of reaching out

2. the length or extent of reach

3. social welfare any systematic effort to provide unsolicited and predefined help to groups or individuals deemed to need it

4. (modifier) (of welfare work or workers) propagating take-up of a service by seeking out appropriate people and persuading them to accept what is judged good for them Compare detached

Etymology

Origin of outreach

First recorded in 1560–70; out- + reach

Explanation

When medical care or other services are delivered to people in their community, it's through outreach. Your local animal shelter might conduct outreach programs to provide affordable vaccines to pet owners. When a person or organization reaches out to others, that's outreach. Churches, political groups, public health departments, and educators all offer outreach, extending some kind of helping hand or useful information to the wider community. You can also use this word to mean "exceed," like when demand for a new gaming console outreaches the available supply, or when a tennis player with longer arms can outreach an opponent by being able to hit a ball from farther away.

Example Sentences

In February, he took further steps during the harsh weather, freeing up hotel rooms, placing 1,400 people in homeless shelters, and sending another 150 outreach workers to the streets.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

"Asim Munir's diplomatic status was boosted by the war with India primarily and then his outreach in Washington DC," said Hassan Abbas, a Pakistani-American author of several books on the region's politics and security.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

In the months that followed, McAfee said, his outreach to the health secretary went unanswered.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

“The outreach that’s happening, the conversation and events and the collective power of community is working,” Sym said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

I’m comfortable with it, and no community outreach program will change my mind.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• eclipse
• outpace
• outstrip
• top