Strive

//ˈstɹaɪv// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Alternative form of strife. alt-of, alternative, obsolete
Verb
  1. 1
    To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.

    "He strove to excel."

  2. 2
    to exert much effort or energy wordnet
  3. 3
    To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.

    "to strive against fate"

  4. 4
    attempt by employing effort wordnet
  5. 5
    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."

Synonyms

All synonyms
endeavor&c. one's nose to the grindstoneagonizeaimaim toapply oneself

Example

More examples

"They strive constantly to improve customer relations."

Etymology

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.

Related phrases

do not sit in Rome and strive with the Pope

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.