WordGarden.iograpple
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡrˈæpəl/
US
- /ˈɡræpəl/
Meanings
Verb
to wrestle or struggle physically with someone at close quarters
to try hard to understand or deal with a difficult problem
to catch, fasten, or pull something with a grapple
Noun
a close physical struggle or wrestling hold
a hook or gripping device used to catch or hold something
Beyond the definition
Imagine a climber on a rocky cliff, holding on tightly and pulling upward. That gives you a good feel for this word. To grapple means to fight or struggle closely with someone, as in wrestling. It is also used for hard problems that are not physical. You can grapple with a difficult idea, trying to understand it. A country might grapple with economic hardship, looking for answers. The word is about facing something hard and working seriously to deal with it. Think of it as a physical or mental tug-of-war.
The word "grapple" carries the image of a firm hold, both physically and mentally. It once referred to seizing or hooking onto something, and from there it came to describe close physical struggle, such as wrestling or hand-to-hand fighting. "The two knights grappled fiercely in the arena."
However, "grapple" is not limited to physical struggle. It is often used metaphorically to describe facing and trying to deal with a difficult problem, idea, or situation. A scientist might grapple with complex data, searching for patterns. A writer could grapple with writer's block, struggling to find the right words. A society may grapple with inequality, trying to find fair solutions.
The key idea is sustained effort. It is not a quick fix, but active involvement with something hard. The word suggests trying, adjusting, and continuing until you reach some understanding or make progress. You do not simply think about a problem; you grapple with it by working through it.
So whether it's a physical fight, a mental challenge, or a societal issue, "to grapple" means to engage in a determined struggle until progress is made.
Examples
- 1
Physical struggle
The two men grappled on the ground until the police arrived.
- 2
Personal decision
She spent months grappling with the decision to move abroad.
- Patterngrapple with + problem/idea
try hard to deal with a difficult problem or idea
- 3
Hospital staffing
Many hospitals are grappling with a shortage of nurses.
- 4
Moral questions
The novel grapples with questions of guilt and forgiveness.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Loneliness
After the divorce, he grappled with loneliness for a long time.
- 6
Housing policy
City leaders are still grappling with how to make housing more affordable.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- grappleverbnoun
Forms
- grappling-ing formverbnoun
- grappledpast tenseverbnoun
- grapplesverbnoun