grab at/for
phrasal verb
grabbed at/for; grabbing at/for; grabs at/for
: to quickly stretch out one's hand and try to touch or hold (something or someone)
People were grabbing at her as she walked through the crowd.
He grabbed for the ball and missed.
—often used figurativelyWe grabbed at the chance to go.
political parties grabbing for power
Examples of grab at/for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is just becoming a money grab for anyone with zero humanity.
—
Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2024
Black+Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum This handheld, which comes with attachments to tackle all kinds of cleaning projects, is just the thing to grab for small messes around the house.
—Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 17 July 2024
Except that self keeps getting in its own way: Her mind and body, those dueling forces that alternately grab at our attention, repeatedly turn her away from Shakespeare.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024
One more followed in the fourth when Soto, in foul territory, made a leaping grab at the wall in right.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for grab at/for 
Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2024
Black+Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum This handheld, which comes with attachments to tackle all kinds of cleaning projects, is just the thing to grab for small messes around the house.
—Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 17 July 2024
Except that self keeps getting in its own way: Her mind and body, those dueling forces that alternately grab at our attention, repeatedly turn her away from Shakespeare.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024
One more followed in the fourth when Soto, in foul territory, made a leaping grab at the wall in right.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for grab at/for
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grab at/for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grab at/for
Cite this Entry
“Grab at/for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grab%20at%2Ffor. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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