struggle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an energetic attempt to achieve something
    battle.
    • getting through the crowd was a real struggle
    • he fought a battle for recognition
  2. noun an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)
    battle; conflict.
    • the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph"--Thomas Paine
    • police tried to control the battle between the pro- and anti-abortion mobs
  3. noun strenuous effort
    • the struggle to get through the crowd exhausted her
  4. verb make a strenuous or labored effort
    fight.
    • She struggled for years to survive without welfare
    • He fought for breath
  5. verb to exert strenuous effort against opposition
    • he struggled to get free from the rope
  6. verb climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    shin; shinny; skin; sputter; clamber; scramble.
  7. verb be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
    contend; fight.
    • the tribesmen fought each other
    • Siblings are always fighting
    • Militant groups are contending for control of the country

WordNet

Strug"gle intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. strogelen; cf. Icel. strjka to stroke, to beat, to flog, Sw. stryka to stroke, to strike, Dan. stryge, G. straucheln to stumble. Cf. Stroll.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Struggled ; present participle & verbal noun Struggling
Definitions
  1. To strive, or to make efforts, with a twisting, or with contortions of the body.
  2. To use great efforts; to labor hard; to strive; to contend forcibly; as, to struggle to save one's life; to struggle with the waves; to struggle with adversity.
    The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it [Gettysburg] far above our power to add or detract. Lincoln.
  3. To labor in pain or anguish; to be in agony; to labor in any kind of difficulty or distress.
    'T is wisdom to beware, And better shun the bait than struggle in the snare. Dryden.
    Syn. -- To strive; contend; labor; endeavor.
Strug"gle noun
Definitions
  1. A violent effort or efforts with contortions of the body; agony; distress.
  2. Great labor; forcible effort to obtain an object, or to avert an evil. Macaulay.
  3. Contest; contention; strife.
    An honest might look upon the struggle with indifference. Addison.
    Syn. -- Endeavor; effort; contest; labor; difficulty.

Webster 1913