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
They could not be reached for comment Thursday.
—
Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the cold air round the back of the Corner Pin before the Spurs-Villa cup tie, Adam Nathan and Adam Manson reach for similar phrases when discussing Tottenham’s despondency.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
For that manicure, Bachik reached for Chanel's Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Le Diable en Chanel, a velvety true black.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Therefore, don’t reach for a sleeper.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
In the cold air round the back of the Corner Pin before the Spurs-Villa cup tie, Adam Nathan and Adam Manson reach for similar phrases when discussing Tottenham’s despondency.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
For that manicure, Bachik reached for Chanel's Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Le Diable en Chanel, a velvety true black.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Therefore, don’t reach for a sleeper.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026
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 18 Jan. 2026.
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