strive
[ strahyv ]
verb (used without object),strove [strohv] /stroʊv/ or strived, striv·en [striv-uhn] /ˈstrɪv ən/ or strived, striv·ing.
to exert oneself vigorously; try hard: He strove to make himself understood.
to make strenuous efforts toward any goal: to strive for success.
to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.
to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance: to strive against fate.
to rival; vie.
Origin of strive
1First 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”
synonym study For strive
1. See try.
Other words for strive
Other words from strive
- striv·er, noun
- in·ter·strive, verb (used without object), in·ter·strove, in·ter·striv·en, in·ter·striv·ing.
- out·strive, verb (used with object), out·strove, out·striv·en, out·striv·ing.
- o·ver·strive, verb (used without object), o·ver·strove, o·ver·striv·en, o·ver·striv·ing.
- re·strive, verb (used without object), re·strove, re·striv·en, re·striv·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for strive
strive
/ (straɪv) /
verbstrives, striving, strove or striven (ˈstrɪvən)
(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
Origin of strive
1C13: from Old French estriver, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German streben to strive, Old Norse strītha to fight
Derived forms of strive
- striver, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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