grap ‧ ple /ˈɡræp ə l/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: grappelle , from grape ; ⇨ ↑ grape ]
to fight or struggle with someone, holding them tightly SYN wrestle
grapple with
Two men grappled with a guard at the door.
grapple with something phrasal verb
to try hard to deal with or understand something difficult:
The Government has to grapple with the problem of unemployment.
Molly’s upstairs grappling with her maths homework.