/ ˈstrʌgl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
struggle (for sth) to try very hard to do sth when it is difficult or when there are a lot of problems :
[ v ]
a country struggling for independence
Shona struggled for breath .
life as a struggling artist (= one who is very poor)
[ v to inf ]
They struggled just to pay their bills.
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move somewhere or do sth with difficulty :
I struggled up the hill with the heavy bags.
Paul struggled out of his wheelchair.
3.
[ v ] struggle (against / with sb/sth) to fight against sb/sth in order to prevent a bad situation or result :
He struggled against cancer for two years.
Lisa struggled with her conscience before talking to the police.
4.
[ v ] struggle (with sb) to fight sb or try to get away from them :
Ben and Jack struggled together on the grass.
I struggled and screamed for help.
James was hit in the mouth as he struggled with the raiders.
How did she manage to struggle free ?
5.
[ v ] struggle (with sb) (for sth) to compete or argue with sb, especially in order to get sth :
rival leaders struggling for power
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PHRASAL VERBS
- struggle along / on
■ noun
1.
[ C ] struggle (with sb) (for / against sth) | struggle (with sb) (to do sth) | struggle (between A and B) a hard fight in which people try to obtain or achieve sth, especially sth that sb else does not want them to have :
a power / leadership struggle
a struggle for independence
the struggle between good and evil
He is engaged in a bitter struggle with his rival to get control of the company.
She will not give up her children without a struggle.
➡ note at campaign
2.
[ C ] a physical fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of them is trying to escape, or to get sth from the other :
There were no signs of a struggle at the murder scene.
➡ note at fight
3.
[ sing. ] struggle (to do sth) something that is difficult for you to do or achieve
SYN effort :
It was a real struggle to be ready on time.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : frequentative, perhaps of imitative origin. The noun dates from the late 17th cent.