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
For decades, the flying car was a dream that tantalized car designers and engineers – a staple of sci-fi and futuristic predictions, but seemingly out of reach for everyday commuters.
—
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
The day before the bus-station scene, Khaled’s class in a West Bank village near Ramallah set out on a trip to the beach, a place that stands for all that is nearly out of reach for Palestinians living under occupation.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
Mules have been trending recently, both on and off the runway as well as with celebrities reaching for the style for red carpet appearances.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Cummings could not be reached for comment.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
The day before the bus-station scene, Khaled’s class in a West Bank village near Ramallah set out on a trip to the beach, a place that stands for all that is nearly out of reach for Palestinians living under occupation.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
Mules have been trending recently, both on and off the runway as well as with celebrities reaching for the style for red carpet appearances.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
Cummings could not be reached for comment.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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