past and past participle
Tried very hard to do something or deal with something difficult.
He struggled to lift the heavy box.
She has struggled with anxiety for years.
American English
How to pronounce struggled
verbB1Common word
STRUHgld
/ˈstɹə.gl̩d̚/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of struggle
Struggled is both the past form and the past participle of struggle.
Tried very hard to do something or deal with something difficult.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
past and past participle
Fought or pulled against someone or something using force.
The swimmer struggled against the strong current.
The suspect had struggled with the guard before escaping.
Useful expressions
to have difficulty moving, learning, or progressing at the same speed as others
I struggle to keep up in fast meetings.
to have difficulty paying for basic needs
Many families struggle to make ends meet.
a hard fight to stay alive
The animals struggle for survival in winter.
Related words & forms
Drop the final e before -ing: struggling. Keep the double g in struggled.