struggle
STRUH-guhl
Struggle (verb) means to make a strong, difficult effort to do, achieve, or overcome something. Example: “She struggled to finish the marathon in the heat.”
verb
1
To make a strong, difficult effort to do, achieve, or overcome something.
"She struggled to finish the marathon in the heat."
"Many small businesses struggled to survive the downturn."
"He struggled to carry the heavy shopping up four flights of stairs."
noun
1
A hard and prolonged effort or fight, often against difficult odds.
"His recovery was a long struggle after the accident."
"The strike was part of a broader struggle for fair wages."
"Learning to walk again was a daily struggle for her."
How to use struggle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFighting hard against something difficult, whether it’s a task, an opponent, or circumstances.
Common pairings
struggle with
struggle to make ends meet
a power struggle
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Word forms
- Plural
- struggles
- Third person singular
- struggles
- Past tense
- struggled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ to finish the marathon in the heat.
Etymology
From Middle English struglen, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Middle Dutch words meaning "to stumble" or "to trip."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for struggle
See all rhymes for struggle →Frequently asked questions
What does “struggle” mean?
The word “struggle” means to make a strong, difficult effort to do, achieve, or overcome something. In plain terms, fighting hard against something difficult, whether it’s a task, an opponent, or circumstances.
How do you pronounce “struggle”?
“Struggle” is pronounced STRUH-guhl (/ˈstɹʌɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “struggle” in a sentence?
Here is “struggle” used in a sentence: “She struggled to finish the marathon in the heat.”
What part of speech is “struggle”?
Depending on how it is used, “struggle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “struggle” come from?
The word “struggle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English struglen, of uncertain origin, possibly related to Middle Dutch words meaning "to stumble" or "to trip.".
Is “struggle” a common word?
“Struggle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “struggle” have?
“Struggle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a strong, difficult effort to do, achieve, or overcome something.
What is the difference between struggle and strive?
Both involve determined effort, but the emphasis differs. To strive is to work hard toward a goal, stressing ambition and aspiration. To struggle stresses the difficulty and hardship involved, suggesting you are up against real resistance. You can strive calmly, but struggling implies you are finding something genuinely tough.
Is struggle a negative word?
Not entirely. It describes difficulty, which sounds negative, but it usually also implies effort and perseverance rather than giving up. Saying that someone struggled to finish a race can actually highlight their determination. Context decides the tone: struggle can express hardship, admiration for persistence, or both at once.
What is the opposite of struggle?
The opposite is doing something easily and smoothly. Verbs like breeze through, glide, sail through, or manage with ease all capture the idea of effortless success. Where struggle suggests fighting against resistance, its opposites suggest little or no difficulty at all.
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