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
Just ask Sabrina Carpenter, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, or other A-listers who reach for toasty Ugg boots and slippers each winter.
—
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead, one of the best ways to clean granite naturally is to reach for mild dish soap.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2025
Goes to show that even chefs reach for Duncan Hines from time to time.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
Next, a motion generator uses perception and task instructions to propose safe, short actions, such as reaching for an object or navigating space.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reach for
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Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead, one of the best ways to clean granite naturally is to reach for mild dish soap.
—Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2025
Goes to show that even chefs reach for Duncan Hines from time to time.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2025
Next, a motion generator uses perception and task instructions to propose safe, short actions, such as reaching for an object or navigating space.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 2025.
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