# struggling

/ˈstɹəɡəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /stɹˈʌɡlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/struggling
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. trying hard against difficulty

verb · CEFR B1

trying very hard to do something that is difficult or requires a lot of effort.

For teachers: making a strenuous effort to achieve something despite significant obstacles or resistance.

- The student was struggling to understand the complex math problem.
- The small business is currently struggling to remain profitable in a market dominated by international corporations.

Usage: Often followed by 'to' and an infinitive, or 'with' and a noun phrase.

### 2. fighting or resisting

verb · CEFR B2

moving your body violently to get free from someone or something.

For teachers: engaging in a physical conflict or using force to escape from a physical restraint.

- The cat was struggling to get out of the carrier.
- The suspect was seen struggling with the officers before eventually being restrained and placed in the vehicle.

### 3. the act of trying hard

noun · CEFR B2

the act of making a great effort or fighting for something.

For teachers: the action of engaging in a struggle, whether physical, social, or mental.

- After years of struggling, the artist finally sold her first painting.
- The document details the long history of struggling for civil rights in the region during the twentieth century.

### 4. having difficulties

adjective · CEFR B1

having a hard time being successful or having enough money.

For teachers: experiencing significant difficulty, especially in a financial or professional context.

- The government is trying to help struggling families pay their heating bills.
- The charity provides mentorship programmes for struggling actors who are finding it difficult to secure consistent work in the industry.

## Examples

- He is struggling to finish his homework on time.
- Many small businesses are currently struggling to stay open because of the rising cost of electricity.
- The protagonist spends much of the novel struggling against the rigid social expectations of her era, eventually finding a sense of peace in her own independence.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.