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
Their captain did not reach for a cape.
—
Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
While there wasn’t anything negative said about it, this isn’t the brand most editors would reach for on the shelves.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
And yet, a spot in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field might be out of reach for the second season in a row.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Afternoon pick-me-up When energy drops in the afternoon, many people reach for specialty coffee drinks packed with sugar and fat.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
While there wasn’t anything negative said about it, this isn’t the brand most editors would reach for on the shelves.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
And yet, a spot in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field might be out of reach for the second season in a row.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Afternoon pick-me-up When energy drops in the afternoon, many people reach for specialty coffee drinks packed with sugar and fat.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 2026.
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