outreach
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
outreaches
plural
adjective
verb
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(tr) to surpass in reach
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(tr) to go beyond
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to reach or cause to reach out
noun
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the act or process of reaching out
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the length or extent of reach
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social welfare any systematic effort to provide unsolicited and predefined help to groups or individuals deemed to need it
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(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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outreach
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Nežič, who works at the planetarium as a tours and outreach officer, said he thought it was "so cool" when he learned that asteroids can be named after people.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
Voter education and outreach was part of the mission.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026
For Timothy Snyder, the chair in modern European history at Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs, Carney's outreach to Europe in response to US hostility is tactically sound.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
Madrone, the county supervisor, said some of the outreach to tribes was insensitive, with some people essentially telling members to get over the past.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
There are students, parents, and a few people from community outreach organizations.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Looking like a junior professor in his crisp jeans, vest and nerdy-trendy red-framed eyeglasses, Mr. Guimarães has an easygoing amiability that makes his invitations to participate in the show feel like casual outreaches to friends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
While the early Christian church was composed almost entirely of Jewish believers in Jesus, present day outreaches to Jews have been controversial.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 21, 2023
Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood.
From Seattle Times ● May 23, 2023
The 60-day period of footage shows people moving boxes from the basement storage area around the time of one of the outreaches from the Justice Department.
From New York Times ● Aug. 26, 2022
Seldom had La Fleur or either of her husbands prepared for prince, ambassador, or titled gourmand a meal which better satisfied the loftiest outreaches of the soul in the truest interests of the palate.
From The Girl at Cobhurst by Frank Richard Stockton
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
