gerund or present participle
Trying very hard to do something or deal with something difficult.
She is struggling to understand fast speech.
The students are struggling with the new software.
American English
How to pronounce struggling
verb · noun · adjectiveB1Common word
STRUHGlihng
/ˈstɹəg.lɪŋ/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of struggle
Struggling often describes an ongoing difficulty or effort; it commonly comes before to + verb or with + noun.
Trying very hard to do something or deal with something difficult.
What to listen for
“Struggling” is commonly pronounced /ˈstɹəg.lɪŋ/. Some speakers keep a short middle vowel and say /ˈstɹə.gə.lɪŋ/.
Common pronunciation/ˈstɹəg.lɪŋ/
Pronunciation with a short middle vowel/ˈstɹə.gə.lɪŋ/
Meanings & examples
gerund or present participle
Fighting or pulling against someone or something using force.
The swimmer is struggling against the strong current.
The two men were struggling over the suitcase.
gerund noun
The act of trying very hard to do something or deal with something difficult.
Struggling with new software can be frustrating.
Struggling to pay the bills is stressful.
participle adjective
Having difficulty succeeding, growing, or dealing with a problem.
Many struggling students need extra support.
The struggling business closed one store.
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.