strive

To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.

Noun

  1. Alternative form of strife.

Forms

strives

Verb

  1. To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
    • He strove to excel.
    • We strive for the truth.
    • Though the writer has striven to dwell on aspects that have passed, or are passing away, it will be apparent that many features of Midland practice have been adopted as standard for the L.M.S.R. and other railways. -...

    Synonyms: seek pursue reach for

  2. To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
    • to strive against fate
    • Now private pity strove with public hate, / Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate. - 1668, John Denham, “On the Earl of Strafford’s Tryal and Death”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, London: […] [John...
    • We have met this new thing that has come upon the earth and have striven against its armies, but could not drive them forth; and the new thing is beautiful but very angry, and is creeping towards the gods. - 1906, Lord...
  3. To vie; to compete as a rival.
    • [Not] that sweet grove Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired Castalian spring, might with this paradise Of Eden strive. - 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be...

Origin

From Middle English striven (“to strive”), from Old French estriver (“to compete, quarrel”), from Frankish *strīban (“to exert, make an effort”) from Proto-Germanic *strībaną, or from Frankish *stribēn (“to strive”) from Proto-Germanic *stribāną. As this verb is conjugated as if it were a strong verb (like drive, ride, and write), it is possible this word may instead be inherited from an unattested Old English *strīfan or *strifian, which would itself also be inherited from Proto-Germanic *strībaną.

Forms

strives striving strove strived striven no-table-tags glossary strive -

Synonyms

put keep &c. one's nose to the grindstone put one's back into give 110% break one's back work hard apply oneself put one's shoulder to the wheel

Related

strife

Derived

do not sit in Rome and strive with the Pope gainstrive overstrive restrive striver strivingly unstriving upstrive