grasp for

verb

grasped for; grasping for; grasps for
: to try in a desperate or awkward way to get (something)
His sudden decision to quit the race has left his supporters grasping for explanations.
grasping for attention

Examples of grasp for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Entertainment giants are truly grasping for any hint of intellectual property this days — including by plumbing the depths of random playground games. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026 Cicero has been my nemesis in this book, for unconscionably grasping for elder power and offering up rationales for doing so repeated over the centuries. Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 The sport's scoring system is notably distinct, and can sometimes be hard to grasp for newcomers. Ayana Archie, NPR, 4 June 2026 Instead of confidently pitching the idea, Lawrén froze — grasping for something, anything, to say. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grasp for

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grasp for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp%20for. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster