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.
Hernández, who entered this series with a .668 OPS against right-handed pitchers, had been struggling for so long that Roberts contemplated a left-field platoon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
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
Even before the quakes, Venezuela had been struggling with economic crisis and political upheaval that left infrastructure and health services depleted.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
I had been struggling with tears for some time: I had taken great pains to repress them, because I knew he would not like to see me weep.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
