strive

[strahyv]

verb (used without object)

strove, strived, striven, strived, striving. 

1. to exert oneself vigorously; try hard.

   He strove to make himself understood.

2. to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.

   to strive for success.

   Synonyms: toil

3. to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.

   Synonyms: fight, struggle

4. to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance.

   to strive against fate.

5. to rival; vie.

strive

/ straɪv /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make a great and tenacious effort

   to strive to get promotion

2. (intr) to fight; contend

Other Word Forms

• striver noun
• interstrive verb (used without object)
• outstrive verb (used with object)
• overstrive verb (used without object)
• restrive verb (used without object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of strive¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of strive¹

C13: from Old French estriver, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German streben to strive, Old Norse strītha to fight

Synonym Study

See try.

Example Sentences

Since then, the wealthy Alpine nation has been striving to negotiate a better tariff deal, even as it has slashed its 2026 growth forecast as the tariffs weigh on its export-driven economy.

Read more on Barron's

Atencio, according to the book, immersed himself in films like Disney’s own “Treasure Island” and pop-cultural interpretations of pirates, striving for something that felt borderline caricature rather than ripped from the history books.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said the group are striving to "achieve honesty and transparency".

Read more on BBC

Freedom, Nehru continued, as not an end but a beginning - "not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving".

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They are all separate entities striving to meet their own objectives and they often build different identities too, with data dictating the direction.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aim 
• endeavor 
• go all out 
• seek 
• tackle