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
But Layton’s attention to detail, mood and character development establish him as a first-class screenwriter and director, showing the style and vision of a Michael Mann and the grasp for dialogue and character like a Quentin Tarantino or Sydney Pollack.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
His acknowledgement comes as lawmakers are grasping for what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in what’s known as the Epstein files.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
His acknowledgment comes as lawmakers are grasping for what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in what’s known as the Epstein files.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Thirteen out of 20 losses have been within grasp for the Nuggets in the last five minutes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
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.
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
His acknowledgement comes as lawmakers are grasping for what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in what’s known as the Epstein files.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
His acknowledgment comes as lawmakers are grasping for what accountability looks like amid the revelations contained in what’s known as the Epstein files.
—Stephen Groves, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Thirteen out of 20 losses have been within grasp for the Nuggets in the last five minutes.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grasp for
Cite this Entry
“Grasp for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grasp%20for. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
