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
When a buck rolls in out of nowhere, don’t reach for your call.
—
Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
Despite her stark warnings about Trump, Harris reached for optimism on Wednesday.
—Matt Brown, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2024
For this, reach for lip glosses like Rhode’s Peptide Lip Tint or Ilia’s tinted lip balm.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Even the once affordable Midwest and Sunbelt cities are increasingly out of reach for most Americans.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reach for 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
Despite her stark warnings about Trump, Harris reached for optimism on Wednesday.
—Matt Brown, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2024
For this, reach for lip glosses like Rhode’s Peptide Lip Tint or Ilia’s tinted lip balm.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Even the once affordable Midwest and Sunbelt cities are increasingly out of reach for most Americans.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reach for
Dictionary Entries Near reach for
Cite this Entry
“Reach for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reach%20for. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share