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
Trump’s words and actions now have observers reaching for the history books.
—
Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The key is to reach for ones that are not loaded up with sugar; enter RX, a clean protein bar made from egg whites, dates, and nuts that pack in 12-18 grams of protein per bar in appealing recipes like chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, coconut chocolate, blueberry, and more.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026
When reached for comment, Johnson, who lives in Parrish on he Gulf Coast of Florida, declined to be interviewed, instead sending his campaign website.
—Carter Weinhofer, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
When reached for comment about his statements, a representative for Smith said his response was in Friday’s show.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reach 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.
Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The key is to reach for ones that are not loaded up with sugar; enter RX, a clean protein bar made from egg whites, dates, and nuts that pack in 12-18 grams of protein per bar in appealing recipes like chocolate sea salt, peanut butter, coconut chocolate, blueberry, and more.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026
When reached for comment, Johnson, who lives in Parrish on he Gulf Coast of Florida, declined to be interviewed, instead sending his campaign website.
—Carter Weinhofer, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
When reached for comment about his statements, a representative for Smith said his response was in Friday’s show.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 10 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 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share