grasp for
phrasal 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
Riley also is filled with a new sympathy for anyone grasping for a semblance of normalcy when their world is upside down.
—
Mackenzie Happe and Zoë Todd, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
Rookie Bo Nix threw touchdowns on consecutive drives, grasping for any ounce of momentum as the Chargers went three-and-out on back-to-back possessions.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
Yet politicians, especially local city elected officials grasping for the golden ring of higher office, absolutely love policies that bash landlords, seem to favor tenants, and cost no money and come with zero evaluation; do these measures even work?
—Roger Valdez, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
In the face of the ineffable, A’s fans have been grasping for metaphor.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grasp 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.
Mackenzie Happe and Zoë Todd, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
Rookie Bo Nix threw touchdowns on consecutive drives, grasping for any ounce of momentum as the Chargers went three-and-out on back-to-back possessions.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
Yet politicians, especially local city elected officials grasping for the golden ring of higher office, absolutely love policies that bash landlords, seem to favor tenants, and cost no money and come with zero evaluation; do these measures even work?
—Roger Valdez, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
In the face of the ineffable, A’s fans have been grasping for metaphor.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grasp for
Dictionary Entries Near grasp for
Cite this Entry
“Grasp for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp%20for. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share