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
Lack of information A chief concern among Democratic lawmakers is that the White House has kept Congress — and the public — in the dark and grasping for details about recent military actions.
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Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
In the fickle universe of popular TV entertainment, there is often a creative endeavor whose reach far exceeds its grasp for whatever particular reason at that moment in broadcast history.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The response to Kirk’s death is playing out in a fractured media environment where people across the political spectrum have grasped for explanations.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 12 Sep. 2025
Proponents grasp for reasons to still believe in its possible realization.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
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Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
In the fickle universe of popular TV entertainment, there is often a creative endeavor whose reach far exceeds its grasp for whatever particular reason at that moment in broadcast history.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2025
The response to Kirk’s death is playing out in a fractured media environment where people across the political spectrum have grasped for explanations.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 12 Sep. 2025
Proponents grasp for reasons to still believe in its possible realization.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
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 29 Oct. 2025.
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