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strive - 5 dictionary results

strive

  [strahyv] ,
Use strive in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), strove or strived, striv⋅en  [striv-uhn] or strived, striv⋅ing.
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.
3. to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.
4. to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance: to strive against fate.
5. to rival; vie.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME striven < OF estriver to quarrel, compete, strive < Gmc; cf. obs. D strijven, G streben to strive

Related forms:
striver, noun
striv⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See try. 2. toil. 3. struggle, fight.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To strive
strive   (strīv)   
intr.v.   strove (strōv), striv·en (strĭv'ən) or strived, striv·ing, strives
  1. To exert much effort or energy; endeavor.
  2. To struggle or fight forcefully; contend: strive against injustice.

[Middle English striven, from Old French estriver, from estrit, estrif, quarrel; see strife.]
striv'er n., striv'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Strive

Strive\, v. i. [imp. Strove; p. p. Striven(Rarely, Strove); p. pr. & vb. n. Striving.] [OF. estriver; of Teutonic origin, and akin to G. streben, D. streven, Dan. str[ae]be, Sw. str["a]fva. Cf. Strife.]

1. To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard.

Was for this his ambition strove To equal C[ae]sar first, and after, Jove? --Cowley.

2. To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest; -- followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against temptation; strive for the truth. --Chaucer.

My Spirit shall not always strive with man. --Gen. vi. 3.

Why dost thou strive against him? --Job xxxiii. 13.

Now private pity strove with public hate, Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate. --Denham.

3. To vie; to compete; to be a rival. --Chaucer.

[Not] that sweet grove Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired Castalian spring, might with this paradise Of Eden strive. --Milton.

Syn: To contend; vie; struggle; endeavor; aim.

Strive

Strive\, n. 1. An effort; a striving. [R.] --Chapman.

2. Strife; contention. [Obs.] --Wyclif (luke xxi. 9).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : strive
Spanish: esforzarse,
German: sich (be)mühen,
Japanese: 努める
More Translations »

strive 
c.1205 (implied in striving), from O.Fr. estriver "to quarrel, dispute," from estrif, estrit "quarrel" (see strife). It became a strong verb (past tense strove) by rhyming association with drive, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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