verb
C1
Advanced
wrangle
RANG-guhl
Wrangle (verb) means to argue or quarrel at length, often noisily. Example: “The two lawyers wrangled over the contract for hours.”
verb
1
To argue or quarrel at length, often noisily.
"The two lawyers wrangled over the contract for hours."
2
To herd or manage animals, or by extension, people or data.
"He spent the summer wrangling cattle on the ranch."
"She spends most of her job wrangling messy spreadsheets into shape."
noun
1
A long, noisy argument.
"The meeting turned into a wrangle over budget cuts."
How to use wrangle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo argue at length, or to herd/manage something (animals, people, or unruly data).
Common pairings
wrangle over
data wrangling
cattle wrangler
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wrangle.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wrangles
- Third person singular
- wrangles
- Past tense
- wrangled
- Archaic forms
- wranglest, wrangledst, wrangleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two lawyers _____ over the contract for hours.
Etymology
From Middle English wranglen, related to a Low German word meaning "to struggle or wrestle" — the same root behind "wring."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wrangle
See all rhymes for wrangle →Frequently asked questions
What does “wrangle” mean?
The word “wrangle” means to argue or quarrel at length, often noisily. In plain terms, to argue at length, or to herd/manage something (animals, people, or unruly data).
How do you pronounce “wrangle”?
“Wrangle” is pronounced RANG-guhl (/ˈɹeɪ̯ŋɡəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “wrangle” in a sentence?
Here is “wrangle” used in a sentence: “The two lawyers wrangled over the contract for hours.”
What part of speech is “wrangle”?
Depending on how it is used, “wrangle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wrangle” come from?
The word “wrangle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English wranglen, related to a Low German word meaning "to struggle or wrestle" — the same root behind "wring.".
How many meanings does “wrangle” have?
“Wrangle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to argue or quarrel at length, often noisily.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include wrangle:
