verb

wrestle

REHSL

verb

To grapple with an opponent, trying to throw or pin them down, often as a sport.

"The two boys wrestled playfully on the living room floor."

To struggle with a difficult problem or decision.

"She spent all night wrestling with the decision to change careers."

How to Use Wrestle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo physically grapple with someone, or to struggle mentally with a tough problem.

Common pairings

wrestle with a decision wrestle an opponent wrestle with guilt

Word Forms

wrestled past tense, wrestle plural, wrestled plural, wrestles plural, wrestles singular, wrestle singular, wrestled singular, wrestlest singular, wrestledst singular, wrestleth singular

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The two boys _____ playfully on the living room floor.

Etymology

From Old English wrǣstlian, "to wrestle" — related to "wrest", meaning to twist or pull forcefully.