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
Allen and Board President Tara Jeane could not immediately be reached for comment.
—
Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Seized by a desperate need to be heard and unable to speak, Sara reaches for another language, leaving her son a final message through an act of profound vulnerability.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Serra Grove officials could not be reached for comment.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Dallas developer Shawn Todd, the building’s previous owner, could not be reached for comment.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Seized by a desperate need to be heard and unable to speak, Sara reaches for another language, leaving her son a final message through an act of profound vulnerability.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2026
Serra Grove officials could not be reached for comment.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Dallas developer Shawn Todd, the building’s previous owner, could not be reached for comment.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 5 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 7 Feb. 2026.
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