struggle to — to try very hard to do something despite difficulties or obstacles
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to try very hard to do something despite difficulties or obstacles
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstrʌg.əl tuː/
Example Sentences
- Scientists are struggling to find a cure for the common cold.
- My cat struggles to fit into boxes that are clearly too small for her.
- Refugees often struggle to adapt to a new culture and language.
struggle to
VERB[/ˈstrʌg.əl tuː/]
to try very hard to do something despite difficulties or obstacles
He has to struggle to lift the massive boulder blocking the mountain path.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'struggle' derives from Middle English 'strogelen', likely of Scandinavian origin, meaning 'to thrash about' or 'to writhe'. The term originally evoked the image of a person flailing their limbs desperately in water to survive, capturing the essence of violent physical exertion against resistance.
Breakdown
struggle (to thrash about, to strive) + to (infinitive marker indicating purpose). The construction 'struggle to + verb' combines the verb of physical or mental exertion with the purposive infinitive, creating the meaning 'to make effort in order to achieve'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Scientists are struggling to find a cure for the common cold.”
“My cat struggles to fit into boxes that are clearly too small for her.”
“Refugees often struggle to adapt to a new culture and language.”
“He struggled to explain why there was cake on the ceiling.”
“I struggle to wake up before noon, even with three alarms set.”
📚Related Words
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