strive
Americanverb (used without object)
-
strives,
present (3rd person singular)
-
strived,
past participle, past
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strove,
past
-
striven,
past participle
-
striving
present participle
-
to exert oneself vigorously; try hard.
He strove to make himself understood.
-
to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.
to strive for success.
- Synonyms:
- toil
-
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
Synonym Usage
See try.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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strivernoun
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outstriveverb (used with object)
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interstriveverb (used without object)
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overstriveverb (used without object)
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restriveverb (used without object)
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
strivesimple
-
strivessimple
-
have strivedperfect
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have strivenperfect
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has strivedperfect
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has strivenperfect
-
am strivingprogressive
-
are strivingprogressive
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is strivingprogressive
-
have been strivingperfect progressive
-
has been strivingperfect progressive
Past
-
strivedsimple
-
strovesimple
-
had strivedperfect
-
had strivenperfect
-
was strivingprogressive
-
were strivingprogressive
-
had been strivingperfect progressive
Future
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”
Explanation
To strive is to endeavor, reach, or strain for something above or beyond. We strive for self-improvement, a better world, or success in general. The Old French origin of this word, estriver ("quarrel," "dispute"), had its 800th birthday not too long ago. Though it shares its roots with strife ("conflict"), it changed over the years (centuries, actually) to describe something more like a conflict with oneself, the attempt to overcome limitations and stay focused on a goal, regardless of whatever quarrels or disputes come up.
Vocabulary lists containing strive
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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"The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman
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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.
See Examples For:
So whether they end it with you or vice versa, that’s an outcome that you should actually strive for if the person isn’t a good fit.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
He accused both companies of "gambling with our lives" as they strive to develop AI models capable of self-improvement.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
“We create opportunities for those who strive for more,” says its website, which is full of motivational slogans and reveals nothing about what Beezone actually does.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
He said he, along with Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, would "always strive to understand the life situations of different people".
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Finally, here was a clear opportunity to strive toward mastering the language of John Bull.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Chesney called Martin an unbelievable leader and said that his energy will give people a window into what his program strives to look like.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Everyone else receives bronze-tier getaways that include two nights in a variety of U.S. cities, and Mystery Vacations strives to sweeten the deals when possible, Jaura said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Those who know him well - or covered his playing career for many years - will describe him as a curious person who strives to do everything to the best of his ability.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
World football's governing body FIFA, responding to a question from AFP, said it "is committed to respecting all internationally recognized human rights and strives to promote the protection of these rights."
From Barron's ● May 26, 2026
Her given name was Nomzamo, which means one who strives or imdergoes trials, a name as prophetic as my own.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
"Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority," he wrote on X.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
Gellar also praised their fans for allowing them to enjoy a very private life at home with their children, noting that they have always strived to keep their more intimate family life behind closed doors.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026
In a statement, Hampshire county council said it "strived to deliver the best for all children within our educational settings".
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
“I have always strived to adhere to company policies and provide the very best service to my clients,” he said in a statement earlier this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025
She considered herself a passionate observer who strived to understand the wonders God had created.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
SKW posted losses three years in a row as the country strove to wean itself off cheap Russian energy supplies.
From Barron's ● May 3, 2026
Silverblatt said he strove to read an author’s entire body of work, but he never claimed to have read it all if he hadn’t.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026
Sargeant over the years strove to convince U.S. policymakers that the best way to ensure energy security, stem the outflow of migrants and curb China was by working with Venezuelan authorities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
The City of Bulawayo, led by mayor David Coltart, said Mr Moyo would be remembered as an "iconic leader ... and creative" who "strove to champion the arts" in the city and beyond.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2025
As Burkhart left the courtroom, White strove to catch his attention, but Burkhart was swept away by a mob of Hale’s supporters.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Good fellowship was, if not assumed, then striven for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026
Where "Call of Duty" focuses on tighter, smaller skirmishes, Battlefield has always striven to create a more epic canvas.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
While California lawmakers have striven to balance the need to support the cryptocurrency industry and protect consumers, recent legislation has hewed toward tighter state regulation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2023
Emily — brash, naïve, and clad in metallic blue knee-high boots — held up an uncomfortable mirror of everything she had striven not to be.
From New York Times ● Jan. 20, 2023
And with what had might he had striven for tenure!
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
However, Guest warns striving for a sculpted stomach could "feed into people's insecurities".
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
It is striving to begin delivering vehicles to European customers by the end of 2027.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
The “Beef” quartet — Mulligan and Oscar Isaac playing striving, bickering millennials, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeney as their younger, equally desperate counterparts — split their submissions between lead and supporting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Syracuse trustees are beginning to ask: Should the school retrench and redefine itself as a smaller, regional school instead of striving to hold on to its reputation as a national powerhouse?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
For my final round of commencements as First Lady, I spoke at Jackson State University in Mississippi, another historically black school, using the opportunity to talk about striving for excellence.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
