struggle

verb

/ˈstrʌɡl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they struggle	/ˈstrʌɡl/ /ˈstrʌɡl/
he / she / it struggles	/ˈstrʌɡlz/ /ˈstrʌɡlz/
past simple struggled	/ˈstrʌɡld/ /ˈstrʌɡld/
past participle struggled	/ˈstrʌɡld/ /ˈstrʌɡld/
-ing form struggling	/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/ /ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive] to try very hard to do something when it is difficult or when there are a lot of problems
- life as a struggling artist (= one who is very poor)
- struggle for something Shona struggled for breath.
- a country struggling for independence
- struggle to do something The firm is struggling to cope with the demand for its products.
- Local workers were still struggling to find employment.
- Most social enterprises struggle to survive.
- We're already struggling to keep up with demand.
- They struggled just to pay their bills.
- She struggled for 10 years to achieve success as an actress.
- I was unemployed and struggling financially.
- The housing market continues to struggle.
Extra Examples
- For years, she struggled to make ends meet.
- He was really struggling in geometry.
- I'm really struggling with this essay.
- The family struggled through the next few years.
- The team struggled badly last season.
- They had struggled valiantly to keep the railway operating.
- He struggled desperately to get to the shore.
- He struggled hard to keep the boat upright.
Topics Difficulty and failureb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- desperately
- hard
- manfully
- …
verb + struggle
- have to
preposition
- against
- along
- down
- …
phrases
- struggle to your feet
See full entry
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move somewhere or do something with difficulty
- I struggled up the hill with the heavy bags.
- Paul struggled out of his wheelchair.
- She had to struggle into the tight dress.
Extra Examples
- She struggled to her feet and set off after him.
- The small boat struggled against the waves.
Topics Difficulty and failureb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- badly
- really
- clearly
- …
preposition
- through
- with
phrases
- struggle to make ends meet
See full entry
[intransitive] to fight against somebody/something in order to prevent a bad situation or result
- Chloe continued to struggle, but her eyes began to close.
- struggle against somebody/something He struggled against cancer for two years.
- We should all struggle against injustice.
- struggle with somebody/something I have been struggling with injury for a couple of years
- I am struggling with the same issues that other people are.
- Lisa struggled with her conscience before talking to the police.
[intransitive] to fight somebody or try to get away from them
- I struggled and screamed for help.
- struggle with somebody James was hit in the mouth as he struggled with the raiders.
- + adj. How did she manage to struggle free?
Extra Examples
- She struggled furiously but could not get away.
- She struggled against her attacker.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- fiercely
- furiously
- violently
- …
preposition
- against
- with
phrases
- struggle free
See full entry
[intransitive] to compete or argue with somebody/something, especially in order to get something
- struggle for something rival leaders struggling for power
- struggle with somebody/something (for something) countries struggling with each other for economic and military advantage
Extra Examples
- The two men struggled for control of the party.
- The firms are struggling for market share.
Topics Opinion and argumentb2

Word Originlate Middle English: frequentative, perhaps of imitative origin. The noun dates from the late 17th cent.

struggle

noun

/ˈstrʌɡl/

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[countable] a hard fight in which people try to obtain or achieve something, especially something that somebody else does not want them to have
- Marx wrote about the class struggle.
- She played a very important role during the freedom struggle.
- struggle for something a struggle for independence
- Three teams are locked in a struggle for this year's title.
- struggle against something They took up the struggle against racism.
- struggle with something her struggle with cancer
- struggle (with somebody) (to do something) He is engaged in a bitter struggle with his rival to get control of the company.
- struggle between A and B an ongoing power struggle between president and prime minister
- the struggle between good and evil
- She will not give up her children without a struggle.
Synonyms campaign
campaign
- battle
- struggle
- drive
- war
- fight
These are all words for an effort made to achieve or prevent something.
- campaign a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim:
  the campaign for parliamentary reform
  an advertising campaign
- battle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control:
  She finally won the legal battle for compensation.
  the endless battle between man and nature
- struggle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control:
  the struggle for independence
  the struggle between good and evil
battle or struggle?A struggle is always about things that seem absolutely necessary, such as life and death or freedom. A battle can also be about things that are not absolutely necessary, just desirable, or about the pleasure of winning: the battle/struggle between good and evil • a legal struggle for compensation • a struggle of wills/wits.
- drive an organized effort by a group of people to achieve something:
  the drive for greater efficiency
  a drive to reduce energy consumption
campaign or drive?A campaign is usually aimed at getting other people to do something; a drive may be an attempt by people to get themselves to do something: From today, we’re going on an economy drive (= we must spend less). A campaign may be larger, more formal and more organized than a drive.
- war [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop something bad:
  the war against crime
- fight [sing.] the work of trying to stop or prevent something bad or achieve something good; an act of competing, especially in a sport:
  Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.
war or fight?A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.Patterns
- a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight against something
- a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight for something
- a one-man/one-woman/personal campaign/battle/struggle/war
- a bitter campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight
- to launch/embark on a campaign/battle/drive
- to lead/continue the campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight
- to win/lose a battle/struggle/war/fight
Extra Examples
- I've given up the struggle to keep my house clean.
- The UN supported what it saw as the just struggle of an oppressed people.
- The author illustrates the inner struggles of this complicated woman.
- a struggle over the property
- species engaged in a life-or-death struggle with the environment
- the daily struggle for survival
- the long struggle for democracy
- the struggle against fascism
- a leadership struggle
Topics Opinion and argumentb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- epic
- great
- life-and-death
- …
verb + struggle
- begin
- end
- join
- …
struggle + verb
- ensue
- take place
- continue
- …
preposition
- in a/the struggle
- without a struggle
- struggle against
- …
phrases
- a sign of a struggle
- years of struggle
See full entry
[countable] a physical fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of them is trying to escape, or to get something from the other
- There were no signs of a struggle at the murder scene.
- After a short struggle, I managed to get the knife away from him.
- struggle with somebody He was involved in a struggle with the police.
- struggle against somebody The group supported the armed struggle against the dictator.
Synonyms fight
fight
- clash
- brawl
- struggle
- scuffle
These are all words for a situation in which people try to defeat each other using physical force.
- fight a situation in which two or more people try to defeat each other using physical force:
  He got into a fight with a man in the bar.
- clash (journalism) a short fight between two groups of people:
  Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators.
- brawl a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, usually in a public place:
  a drunken brawl in a bar
- struggle a fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of them is trying to escape, or to get something from the other:
  There were no signs of a struggle at the murder scene.
- scuffle a short and not very violent fight or struggle:
  He was involved in a scuffle with a photographer.
Patterns
- a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle over something
- in a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle
- a violent fight/clash/struggle
- to be in/get into/be involved in a fight/clash/brawl/scuffle
- a fight/clash/brawl/scuffle breaks out
Extra Examples
- If someone snatched your bag, would you put up a struggle?
- One of the guards was hurt in the struggle.
- There were the sounds of a desperate struggle.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- epic
- great
- life-and-death
- …
verb + struggle
- begin
- end
- join
- …
struggle + verb
- ensue
- take place
- continue
- …
preposition
- in a/the struggle
- without a struggle
- struggle against
- …
phrases
- a sign of a struggle
- years of struggle
See full entry
[singular] something that is difficult for you to do or achieve synonym effort
- struggle to do something It was a real struggle to be ready on time.
- They face an uphill struggle to get to the finals of the competition.
Extra Examples
- It was a bit of a struggle for me to get there so early.
- It will be an uphill struggle to maintain exports at the current level.
- We had a real struggle to get everything into the suitcase.
Topics Difficulty and failureb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- great
- hard
- real
- …
verb + struggle
- face
- have
- give up
- …
phrases
- a bit of a struggle
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: frequentative, perhaps of imitative origin. The noun dates from the late 17th cent.