struggle
HighNeutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
To make a strenuous effort; to contend with difficulty or opposition.
A prolonged effort or contest; the act of striving against challenges or adversaries.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a degree of difficulty, resistance, or lack of ease; can be physical, mental, or metaphorical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'Struggle' with an illness is slightly more common in UK English, while 'struggle' in a financial context is slightly more frequent in US media.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of effort, hardship, and potential nobility in the effort.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in political/ideological contexts (e.g., 'struggle for freedom').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
struggle (verb) + to-infinitivestruggle (verb) + with/against + nounstruggle (noun) + for + nounstruggle (noun) + between + nounsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “struggle to make ends meet”
- “struggle against the tide”
- “a struggle for survival”
- “life's a struggle”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The new startup continues to struggle for market share.
Academic
The paper examines the ideological struggle within the movement.
Everyday
I really struggle to get up on Monday mornings.
Technical
The engine struggled to maintain compression under load.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- It was a real struggle to get the lid off the jar.
- The struggle for independence lasted decades.
- He saw life as a constant struggle.
American English
- Getting the kids out the door is a daily struggle.
- The power struggle within the committee was intense.
- She spoke about her struggle with anxiety.
verb
British English
- She struggled to lift the suitcase onto the train.
- The team has been struggling with injuries all season.
- He struggled against the strong current.
American English
- I struggle to remember names sometimes.
- The company struggled to turn a profit last quarter.
- They struggled with the decision for weeks.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby struggled to walk.
- Opening the window was a struggle.
- Many students struggle with maths.
- After the injury, even simple tasks became a struggle.
- The government is struggling to contain the economic crisis.
- The novel depicts the protagonist's internal struggle with guilt.
- The artist struggled against the commercial constraints of the industry.
- The philosophical struggle between free will and determinism underpins the narrative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person trying to move a huge, heavy **rug**. They pull and strain—they *struggle* with the rug.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A STRUGGLE / DIFFICULTY IS PHYSICAL CONFLICT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'бороться' for non-physical contexts; 'struggle' is broader. 'Struggle' as a noun ('борьба') is countable in English (a struggle, struggles).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'fight' interchangeably (more aggressive). Incorrect: 'I struggle with my brother.' (unless metaphorical). Forgetting the 'to' infinitive: Incorrect: 'I struggle understand.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'struggle' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While it implies difficulty, it can have a positive connotation of perseverance and effort, e.g., 'a heroic struggle'.
Yes, as an intransitive verb: 'He struggled and finally broke free.' It often takes 'to' + infinitive or 'with/against' + noun.
'Struggle' emphasises effort against difficulty or resistance. 'Fight' is more direct, aggressive, and often implies an opponent or active conflict.
Yes. You can have 'a struggle', 'many struggles', 'several struggles'.