grasp for
phrasal verb
grasped for; grasping for; grasps for
: to try in a desperate or awkward way to get (something)
His sudden decision to quit the race has left his supporters grasping for explanations.
grasping for attention
Examples of grasp for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Victims grasp for answers In late June, more than 10 weeks after surviving the shooting by hiding in the bathroom, Schwartz met with detectives investigating the killings.
—
Joshua Lott, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Leaders throughout the Middle East are grasping for responses that channel the public’s outrage while guarding their own interests.
—Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
But really, though, this is Krieps’ show, another elegantly virtuosic, intelligent turn that, in this case, imbues sickness with dignity so that every strained grasp for breath feels like a victory for autonomy.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Luke is grasping for help on what defines him now because work has only ever defined him and achieving has only ever defined him.
—TIME, 17 Oct. 2023
The new charge left historians grasping for precedents.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Els says various government agencies and private hostage negotiators got in touch, grasping for more clues about her husband's whereabouts -- but to no avail.
—Allie Weintraub, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023
The city had trudged through a tough budget year, pleaded with federal workers to come back to its empty office buildings and grasped for new ways to revitalize downtown as the commercial real estate market floundered.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
The biggest play of the sequence came on third and 10, when Jefferson eluded a sack try, made a move to leave Sam grasping for air and ran 25 yards on a scramble to the LSU 31.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2023
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Joshua Lott, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Leaders throughout the Middle East are grasping for responses that channel the public’s outrage while guarding their own interests.
—Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
But really, though, this is Krieps’ show, another elegantly virtuosic, intelligent turn that, in this case, imbues sickness with dignity so that every strained grasp for breath feels like a victory for autonomy.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Luke is grasping for help on what defines him now because work has only ever defined him and achieving has only ever defined him.
—TIME, 17 Oct. 2023
The new charge left historians grasping for precedents.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023
Els says various government agencies and private hostage negotiators got in touch, grasping for more clues about her husband's whereabouts -- but to no avail.
—Allie Weintraub, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023
The city had trudged through a tough budget year, pleaded with federal workers to come back to its empty office buildings and grasped for new ways to revitalize downtown as the commercial real estate market floundered.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023
The biggest play of the sequence came on third and 10, when Jefferson eluded a sack try, made a move to leave Sam grasping for air and ran 25 yards on a scramble to the LSU 31.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grasp for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Grasp for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp%20for. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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