reach for
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
All of a sudden, eating a burger, taking pills with a shell made from gelatin or reaching for a primer or concealer made with glycerin could mean a trip to the hospital.
—
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 May 2026
Not all of them, in fairness, but when this many high-profile chief executives reach for the same playbook, the phrases stop sounding like coincidence.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Melton smiles and reaches for her hand.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
His lawyer, Kim Joo-kwang, could not immediately be reached for comment.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 27 May 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.
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 May 2026
Not all of them, in fairness, but when this many high-profile chief executives reach for the same playbook, the phrases stop sounding like coincidence.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Melton smiles and reaches for her hand.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
His lawyer, Kim Joo-kwang, could not immediately be reached for comment.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 27 May 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 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
