Meaning & use
struggle
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To make a great effort to do something difficult or to reach a goal.
Grammar: Often followed by to: struggle to finish; no object when the difficulty is the effort itself.
Patterns
- struggle to do something
- struggle for breath
- struggle against time
I struggle to wake up early in winter.
She struggled to carry the heavy box upstairs.
He is struggling to learn the new software.
verbintransitive
To have difficulty dealing with a task, subject, situation, or feeling.
Grammar: Often followed by with: struggle with math; it focuses on coping, not just trying hard.
Patterns
- struggle with something
- struggle with a decision
- struggle to cope
Many students struggle with fractions at first.
He is struggling with a difficult decision.
Small shops struggle to compete online.
verbintransitive
To fight physically or oppose someone or something with force.
Grammar: Takes against/with for an opponent: struggle against the waves; for means fight to obtain a goal.
Patterns
- struggle against someone
- struggle for freedom
- struggle with an attacker
The swimmer struggled against the current.
People struggled for basic rights.
She struggled with the locked door.
nouncountable
A hard effort to achieve, resist, or overcome something difficult.
Grammar: Countable: a long struggle; can be followed by for/against or to do.
Patterns
- a struggle to do something
- a struggle for independence
- a constant struggle
Learning to drive was a struggle at first.
The battle was a struggle for survival.
Paying rent is a constant struggle for some families.
nouncountable or uncountable
A fight, conflict, or competition between people or groups.
Grammar: Can be singular for one conflict or uncountable for ongoing conflict; political uses may be broader.
Patterns
- power struggle
- class struggle
- a struggle between groups
The two departments began a power struggle.
The play shows the family’s inner struggle.
Word forms
| third person singular | struggles |
|---|---|
| past tense | struggled |
| past participle | struggled |
| -ing form | struggling |
| plural | struggles |
Common combinations
- struggle to do
- They struggle to find affordable housing.
- struggle with
- I struggle with spelling in English.
- a constant struggle
- Keeping the garden tidy is a constant struggle.
- struggle for survival
- Small farms face a struggle for survival.
Synonyms and how they differ
- strive
- Strive is purposeful effort toward a goal; struggle emphasizes difficulty or resistance.
- grapple
- Grapple suggests dealing closely with a problem, often struggle with an idea.
- battle
- Battle can be literal war or a strong effort; struggle is wider and less formal.
Opposites
Word family
- struggling adjective
- Having difficulty or making little money or progress.
Commonly confused: struggle or strive? struggle or stumble?
struggle vs strive
Strive means try hard toward a goal; struggle adds the idea of difficulty or resistance.
struggle vs stumble
Stumble means trip or make a mistake; struggle means keep making difficult effort.
Practice
Complete: “I often struggle ___ long division.”
Choose one answer.
Struggle with is used for a subject or task you find difficult; struggle to needs a verb, while against/for take an opponent or goal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “struggle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.