struggle
verb (used without object)
to contend with an adversary or opposing force.
had been struggling
-
past perfect progressiveof struggle.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The chain had been struggling for years with declining traffic and an aging clientele, and Masino gave herself three years to implement a turnaround strategy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Like a lot of Hollywood talent, she had been struggling to find steady work in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The coalition parties -- in power since May last year in Europe's biggest economy -- had been struggling for months to agree on a series of thorny issues.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
For one, he had been struggling with a neck injury.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
Since escaping the camp, Shin had been struggling to learn what normal behavior was for North Koreans.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
