[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/struggle/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / struggle

# struggle

verb (struggle, struggles, struggled, struggling); noun (a struggle, struggles)

«struggle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To struggle means to try very hard to do something difficult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#m1)
2. To struggle means to fight or twist your body to get free. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#m2)
3. A struggle is a hard effort or a fight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#m3)

### In the lessons

At school, pupils «struggle with» hard subjects (fractions, spelling) — that is normal and a part of learning; asking for help is smart. In science and stories, animals struggle to survive in harsh habitats. In safety, if someone struggles in water, do not jump in: shout for help and throw something that floats. Phrases: struggle with, struggle to, a struggle for, struggle free, it was a struggle.

### Examples

- I struggled with my long division at first. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x1)
- The baby bird struggled to get out of its egg. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x2)
- Getting up early on Monday is a struggle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x3)
- The cat struggled out of my arms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x4)
- Plants struggle to grow in the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x5)
- He was struggling to carry the heavy box, so I helped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x6)
- If you see someone struggling in the water, shout for a lifeguard. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x7)
- The struggle began, and a terrible struggle it was. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: struggled, struggling. «Struggle with» (a problem) and «struggle to do» (an action). Struggling does not mean you are bad at something; it often means you are learning.

## In Jewish tradition

Here it means that the twins pushed and crushed against each other inside Rebekah.

**Interpretation.** Rashi explains that the twins Jacob and Esau struggled because one leaned toward holy places and the other toward idol worship. It foreshadows the long rivalry between them.

### Examples

- And the children struggled together within her; and she said: 'If it be so, wherefore do I live?' And she went to inquire of the LORD. (Torah GEN.25.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/struggle/#x1)

### Note

Regular verb: struggled, struggling. «Struggle with» (a problem) and «struggle to do» (an action). Struggling does not mean you are bad at something; it often means you are learning.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «struggle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/struggle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«struggle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/struggle.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «struggle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/struggle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«struggle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/struggle.html) on Mova free.