What does straggle mean?
Word: Straggle
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Straggle means to walk or move more slowly than the rest of a group, so that you fall behind.
Synonyms: lag, trail
How do you spell straggle?
Syllables: strag - gle
Tricky part: The g is doubled, just as it is in giggle and wriggle. A single g is the commonest slip.
Watch out for: stragle, strraggle
Memory tip: Picture two tired g's walking side by side at the back of the line: that is why the g is doubled.
Straggle in a sentence
Example 1: On the long walk to the fort, a few of us began to straggle behind the teacher.
Example 2: Ducklings often straggle as their mother leads them to the pond.
Example 3: The guide waited at the gate so that nobody would straggle and get left behind.
Fun Fact
Straggle is used for plants too: a rose or a vine that straggles grows in an untidy way, spreading out in different directions.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
gelratsg
a) struggle
b) stagger
c) straggle
d) gargle
Show answer
c) straggle. Gargle is too short, struggle needs a u, and stagger has no l.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
str_ggl_
a) a, i
b) e, e
c) a, e
d) o, e
Show answer
c) a, e. The vowel at the start is the one in strap and stray, and the word ends with a silent e after l.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
straggle
a) dawdle
b) lead
c) hurry
d) gather
Show answer
a) dawdle. To dawdle is to go slowly; hurry and lead are what the front of a group does.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) procession
b) wanderring
c) straggle
d) tiresome
Show answer
b) wanderring. Wander keeps a single r before ing, because the stress falls on its first part.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. During a school race, who is most likely to straggle?
a) a fan waving a flag
b) a runner who stops to tie a lace
c) the runner in first place
d) the teacher with the whistle
Show answer
b) a runner who stops to tie a lace
2. If walkers straggle along a hill path, what does the group look like?
a) marching side by side in step
b) sitting together in a neat circle
c) spread out in a long, untidy line
d) packed tightly round the leader
Show answer
c) spread out in a long, untidy line
