# wrestle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɹɛsl̩/ · frequency rank #15,552

## Definitions
1. To take part in (a wrestling bout or match).
2. Sometimes followed by down: to contend with or move (someone) into or out of a position by grappling; also, to overcome (someone) by grappling.
3. To move or manipulate (something) using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition.
4. To engage in (a contest or struggle).
5. To throw down (a calf or other livestock animal) for branding.
6. To grapple or otherwise contend with an opponent in order to throw or force them to the ground, chiefly as a sport or in unarmed combat.
7. Followed by with: to move or manipulate something using physical effort, usually with some difficulty or opposition.
8. To make one's way or move with some difficulty or effort.
9. Followed by against or with: to contend, to struggle; to exert effort, to strive.
10. To contend verbally; to argue, to debate, to dispute.
11. To twist or wriggle; to writhe.
12. Followed by with: to concern or occupy oneself closely, or deal with, a task, etc.

## Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English wrestlen, wrastlen (“to engage in grappling combat or sport, struggle, wrestle; to twist and turn, squirm, wriggle, writhe; (figurative) to contend, grapple with, struggle”), from Old English wrǣstlian (“to wrestle”), a frequentative form of wrǣstan (“to twist, wrest”), from Proto-Germanic *wraistijaną (“to turn; to twist, wrest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”). By surface analysis, wrest + -le (frequentative suffix). Probably related to wraxle (UK, dialectal, archaic).
The noun is derived from the verb.
cognates
* Middle Dutch worstelen, wrastelen (“to wrestle”) (modern Dutch worstelen)
* Middle Low German wrostelen (“to wrestle”) (German Low German frösseln, wrösseln)
* Saterland Frisian wrosselje (“to contend, wrestle”)
* West Frisian wrakselje (“to wrestle”)

## Easily confused with
- **wrestler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wrestle-vs-wrestler)
- **wrest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wrest-vs-wrestle)
- **whistle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/whistle-vs-wrestle)

## Common misspellings (11)
`rwestle`, `werstle`, `wreslte`, `wresstle`, `wrestel`, `wrestlle`, `wresttle`, `wretsle`, `wrrestle`, `wrsetle`, `wwrestle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/wrestle