Word
wrestle
Phoneticswres·tle, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛsəɫ/
UK/ɹˈɛsəl/
Definition
v. to fight someone by holding and throwing them without using hits or kicks. You can also use this word when you are trying hard to solve a difficult problem.
v. to engage in a physical struggle involving grappling and throwing an opponent. Often used figuratively to describe the act of struggling with a difficult decision, problem, or emotion.
Examples
“The two brothers like to wrestle on the grass.”
“The committee had to wrestle with a shrinking budget while trying to maintain the quality of the program.”
“Philosophers have continued to wrestle with the definition of consciousness for centuries, yet a definitive scientific consensus remains elusive despite modern neurological advances.”
Examples
simple
“The two brothers like to wrestle on the grass.”
contextual
“The committee had to wrestle with a shrinking budget while trying to maintain the quality of the program.”
complex
“Philosophers have continued to wrestle with the definition of consciousness for centuries, yet a definitive scientific consensus remains elusive despite modern neurological advances.”
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'with' when used in a figurative sense to describe mental or emotional struggle.
Pitfall
he is wrestling to the problem
he is wrestling with the problem
When describing a struggle against a problem or idea, the verb requires the preposition 'with'.
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (“to engage in grappling combat or sport, struggle, wrestle; to twist and turn, squirm, wriggle, writhe; (figurative) to contend, grapple with, struggle”), from Old English wrǣstlian (“to wrestle”), a frequentative form of wrǣstan (“to twist, wrest”), from Proto-Germanic wraistijaną (“to turn; to twist, wrest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wreyt- (“to twist”). By surface analysis, wrest + -le (frequentative suffix). Probably related to wraxle (UK, dialectal, archaic). The noun is derived from the verb. cognates * Middle Dutch worstelen, wrastelen (“to wrestle”) (modern Dutch worstelen) * Middle Low German wrostelen (“to wrestle”) (German Low German frösseln, wrösseln) * Saterland Frisian wrosselje (“to contend, wrestle”) * West Frisian wrakselje (“to wrestle”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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