- 1[intransitive, transitive] to take a firm hold of someone or something and struggle with them grapple (with somebody/something) Bystanders grappled with the man after the attack. grapple somebody/something (+ adv./prep.) They managed to grapple him to the ground.
- 2[intransitive] to try hard to find a solution to a problem grapple with something The new government has yet to grapple with the problem of air pollution. grapple to do something I was grappling to find an answer to his question.
grapple
verbNAmE//ˈɡræpl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they grapple he / she / it grapples
past simple grappled
-ing form grappling
Check pronunciation: grapple