Meaning of the word travail in English

What does travail mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

travail

US /treˈveɪl/
UK /ˈtræv.eɪl/
"travail" picture

Noun

painful or laborious effort; a situation of great difficulty or suffering

Example:
The book describes the travails of a family during the war.
After much travail, they finally reached the summit.

Verb

to engage in painful or laborious effort

Example:
He travailed for years to finish his masterpiece.
They travailed through the storm to reach safety.