To paw at or scrape the ground (often said of animals moving their feet/talons in agitation).
子馬が興奮して前脚で地面をあがいていた。
The foal was excitedly pawing at the ground with its front legs.
驚いた鳥が羽をばたつかせ、巣の周りであがいていた。
The startled bird flapped and scratched around its nest.
To flail about, struggle physically (e.g. thrashing in water or trying to escape restraints).
溺れかけた彼は必死に水面であがいたが、周りの人が助けた。
He almost drowned and frantically struggled on the water's surface, but people nearby rescued him.
網に絡まった魚が激しくあがいて逃れようとしていた。
The fish tangled in the net was violently thrashing to get free.
彼は拘束されている間、手足をあがいて抵抗した。
He struggled, thrashing his arms and legs while restrained.
To struggle to escape an adverse situation or to strive hard to change circumstances; often used figuratively for desperate effort.
失業中、彼は職を探してあがき続けたが簡単には見つからなかった。
While unemployed, he kept struggling to find work, but it wasn't easy to get a job.
試験に落ちてからも諦めず、合格するためにあがいて勉強した。
After failing the exam, he didn't give up and struggled to study his way to passing.
会社の倒産を防ごうと、経営陣はあらゆる手を尽くしてあがいた。
The management tried every measure in a desperate effort to prevent the company's bankruptcy.