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
Check your local store Have last-minute groceries to grab for a holiday cookout?
—
Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 May 2025
Even so, there’s something touching about a storyline that involves an aging guy making one final, desperate grab for that big bank job, that high-stakes bounty, that shiny, emblematic trophy.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 June 2025
Together, Jones and Marchand make the biggest talent grab at the trade deadline in NHL history.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2025
Our money is on the ten-mile round-trip Alum Cave Trail, with highlights including a hike-through rock arch, the cliffy overhang of Alum Cave Bluffs, and narrow ledges to traverse (equipped with metal cables to grab for stability).
—Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grab at/for
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 May 2025
Even so, there’s something touching about a storyline that involves an aging guy making one final, desperate grab for that big bank job, that high-stakes bounty, that shiny, emblematic trophy.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 June 2025
Together, Jones and Marchand make the biggest talent grab at the trade deadline in NHL history.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2025
Our money is on the ten-mile round-trip Alum Cave Trail, with highlights including a hike-through rock arch, the cliffy overhang of Alum Cave Bluffs, and narrow ledges to traverse (equipped with metal cables to grab for stability).
—Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share