Meaning of struggle In English

• 0 to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something:

  • [ + to infinitive ] The dog had been struggling to get free of the wire noose.

  • I've been struggling to understand this article all afternoon.

  • Fish struggle for survival when the water level drops in the lake.

  • He struggled along the rough road holding his son.

  • By this time he'd managed to struggle out of bed.

  • After the first half, United were really struggling.

• 1 to fight, especially with your hands:

  • He struggled with his attacker who then ran away.

  • For years she struggled with/against the establishment to get her theories accepted.

• 2 a very difficult task that you can do only by making a great effort:

  • It was a terrible struggle for him to accept her death.

  • The people of this country will continue in their struggle for independence.

  • [ + to infinitive ] She never gave up the struggle to have her son freed from prison.

  • It's going to be an uphill struggle (= very difficult) to get your ideas accepted.

• 3 a physical or mental fight:

  • a struggle with an armed robber

  • the struggle between good and evil

  • Clearly there will be a power struggle within the company.

• 4 to work hard to do something:

  • We watched boys on skateboards struggle to keep their balance.

• 5 to fight, esp. physically:

  • He struggled with his cousin, and his uncle had to step in to calm things down.

• 6 to move with difficulty:

  • She struggled out of her chair.

• 7 a fight:

  • Both men were arrested after their struggle in the street.

• 8 a very great effort to do something:

  • Central banks everywhere are still fighting the struggle against inflation.

• 9 a hard effort or fight to do or get something:

  • a struggle for sth There was a struggle for control of the company.

  • a struggle against sth The struggle against drugs took up much of the police's time and manpower.

• 10 something that is extremely difficult to achieve:

  • We completed the project, but it was a struggle.

  • a struggle to do sth It has been a struggle to make the business profitable.

• 11 to try or fight very hard in order to do or get something:

  • struggle with/against sth For years she struggled with the department to get her ideas accepted.

  • struggle for sth Women struggle for equal rights.

• 12 to find it extremely difficult to succeed or to achieve something:

  • In the current climate many small businesses are struggling.

  • struggle to do sth The Government will struggle to achieve its target of 15% of electricity from renewables.

  • struggle along/through The company may struggle along on its own but a merger with a stronger company would be better for its pension holders.