reach for

verb

To try to get (something) by extending one's arm or moving one's hand.

“to reach for success”

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Meanings

verbreach for (third-person singular simple present reaches for, present participle reaching for, simple past and past participle reached for)

present singular third person reaches for · participle present reaching for · participle past reached for · past reached for

  1. To try to get (something) by extending one's arm or moving one's hand.

    In reaching for a glass he knocked over the ashtray.

  2. To aspire to achieve.

    to reach for success

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
strive

Translations

Czech natáhnout se, sáhnout
  • natáhnout seto try to get by extending one's arm or moving one's hand
  • sáhnoutto try to get by extending one's arm or moving one's hand
Esperanto etendi la manon al
  • etendi la manon alto try to get by extending one's arm or moving one's hand
German greifen
  • greifento try to get by extending one's arm or moving one's hand
Irish sroich, sroich
  • sroichto try to get by extending one's arm or moving one's hand
  • sroichto aspire to achieve
Cite this entry
APA

reach for. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reach%20for

MLA

“reach for.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reach%20for. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reach for,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reach%20for.

Source: reach for on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.