reach for
phrasal verb
reached for; reaching for; reaches for
1
: to move one's hand in order to get or touch (someone or something)
She reached for the salt and pepper.
He reached into his pocket for a dime.
2
: to try hard to achieve or succeed at (something)
Success won't come to you, you have to reach for it.
Examples of reach for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
DeRozan is seen reaching for the legs of the other man, who was lying on the floor inside the restaurant.
—
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Some of us even literally reach for the stars (astronaut Amanda Nguyen).
—Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
However, the Colts shouldn't reach for a passer just for the sake of taking one.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR When hit with a headache or fever, people often reach for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as their first line of defense.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Some of us even literally reach for the stars (astronaut Amanda Nguyen).
—Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
However, the Colts shouldn't reach for a passer just for the sake of taking one.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR When hit with a headache or fever, people often reach for over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as their first line of defense.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reach for
Cite this Entry
“Reach for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reach%20for. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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