grab at/for
phrasal verb
grabbed at/for; grabbing at/for; grabs at/for
: to quickly stretch out one's hand and try to touch or hold (something or someone)
People were grabbing at her as she walked through the crowd.
He grabbed for the ball and missed.
—often used figurativelyWe grabbed at the chance to go.
political parties grabbing for power
Examples of grab at/for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lyle and Erik claimed that their mother and father abused them, but prosecutors alleged that the crime was a grab at the family fortune.
—
Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2024
Naturalist guide Brooke Edwards of Alaska Wildland Adventures was surprised to hear this comment while explaining to her group that food should not be left out in the open in Denali National Park because animals like bear and marmots would make a grab for it.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 18 Sep. 2024
Do small hands grab at your clothes after wiping their runny noses at your teaching job?
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2024
Disney is making a land grab for 2027 movie release dates.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for grab at/for 
Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2024
Naturalist guide Brooke Edwards of Alaska Wildland Adventures was surprised to hear this comment while explaining to her group that food should not be left out in the open in Denali National Park because animals like bear and marmots would make a grab for it.
—Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 18 Sep. 2024
Do small hands grab at your clothes after wiping their runny noses at your teaching job?
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2024
Disney is making a land grab for 2027 movie release dates.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for grab at/for
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grab at/for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grab at/for
Cite this Entry
“Grab at/for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grab%20at%2Ffor. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share