strive
Americanverb (used without object)
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to exert oneself vigorously; try hard.
He strove to make himself understood.
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to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.
to strive for success.
- Synonyms:
- toil
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to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.
-
to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance.
to strive against fate.
-
to rival; vie.
verb
-
(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make a great and tenacious effort
to strive to get promotion
-
(intr) to fight; contend
Related Words
See try.
Other Word Forms
- interstrive verb (used without object)
- outstrive verb (used with object)
- overstrive verb (used without object)
- restrive verb (used without object)
- striver noun
Etymology
Origin of strive
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English striven from Old French estriver “to quarrel, compete, strive” from Germanic; compare obsolete Dutch strijven, German streben “to strive”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I think that sense of community, especially in a city that can be quite big and scary, is something I'm really striving for," he added.
From BBC
Jazz was striving toward new levels of sophistication in the 1950s, as advocates for the music argued for its due consideration alongside classical music.
"We will listen and learn from families, with the support of Donna Ockenden, as we strive to provide excellent maternity and neonatal services," said group chief executive Jo Williams.
From BBC
Europeans have striven this year to maintain U.S. backing for Ukraine—or at least blunt a reduction in U.S. support.
"We will take this experience as a lesson, and will strive to improve the accuracy and speed of our future information dissemination," the town said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
