struggle
verb (used without object)
to contend with an adversary or opposing force.
had struggled
-
past perfectof struggle.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Archaeologists had struggled for decades to explain why so many young people were buried there over such a short period.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Linton had struggled with bipolar disorder for years before the crash and was twice hospitalized due to issues related to her mental illness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
For a country that had struggled to develop strikers, Balogun was a long-awaited solution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Williams said she had struggled to lose weight she had gained during pregnancy - a common experience for many women - and returns to tennis looking lean.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
In the end, I chose four intellectual movements from the nineteenth century and examined how they had struggled with the question of family obligation.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
