Dictionary

strive en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈstɹaɪv/

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.

Meanings

1. To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
   • We strive for the truth.
   • Moreover, on several occasions, terminus stations such as Nine Elms, Bishop's Bridge, Maiden Lane and Bishopgate were built rather further away from the centre of London, only to be dispensed with as the various railway companies strove to get as near as possible to the lucrative markets of the City and the West End. 2021 January 13, Christian Wolmar, “Read all about London's Cathedrals of Steam”, in RAIL, number 922, page 62:
   • 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. 1946 May and June, J. Alan Rannie, “The Midland of 35 Years Ago”, in Railway Magazine, page 200:
   • He strove to excel.
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 Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC:
   • 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 Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC, page 7:
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 sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

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

Relateds

strife

Synonyms

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

Translations (183)

egy p:Z7-G39-Z1-G39-Z1-Z9:D40 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cmn 殫力 /殚力 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pl dążyć (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · be пра́гнуць (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sk snažiť sa (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar جَاهَدَ (to struggle in opposition) · es denodarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pl przykładać się (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · la appeto (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mn зүтгэх (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cs usilovat (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mk се стреми (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru стара́ться (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · id berjuang (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es esforzarse por (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sv anstränga (sig) (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca afanyar-se (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · oc s'esperforçar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · got 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · tg кӯшиш кардан (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es fuercearla (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de ringen um (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · th บากบั่น (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ka ბრძოლა (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fa کوشش کردن (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi kamppailla (to struggle in opposition) · es bregar (to struggle in opposition) · cs snažit se (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ckb تێکۆشان (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it cercare (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk рва́тися (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca procurar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · be рва́цца (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk намага́тися (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · is leggja sig fram (leggja sig fram) (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it battersi (to struggle in opposition) · ta முயல் (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fr combattre (to struggle in opposition) · ko 애쓰다 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca esforçar-se (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sa लषति (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it ambire (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pt aplicar-se (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · nl streven (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar نَاضَلَ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es diligenciar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ga bí ag dréim (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru бороться (to struggle in opposition) · io penar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it impegnarsi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cmn 奮鬥 /奋斗 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · da stræbe efter (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pt esforçar-se (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ka სწრაფვა (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pl starać się (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sk čeliť (to struggle in opposition) · de ringen mit (to struggle in opposition) · got 𐍃𐌽𐌹𐍅𐌰𐌽 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · grc ἀγωνίζομαι (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de streben (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fr s'efforcer (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · khb ᦀᦸᧅᧈᦶᦣᧂ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru стреми́ться (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · bg боря се (to struggle in opposition) · es luchar por (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es azacanarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · kk тырысу (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk стара́тися (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de sich bemühen (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it lottare (to struggle in opposition) · it adoperarsi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · eo strebi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ja 奮闘する (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cs čelit (to struggle in opposition) · es rajarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de sich anstrengen (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sv ge 110% (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi ponnistella (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · te కృషి చేయు (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mi nanaiore (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · be стара́цца (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca bregar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es agenciar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk силува́тися (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ka ცდა (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · la mōlior (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · nb streve (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca júnyer (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · egy U28-A-n:Z4-n:Z4-Z9:D40 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ja 努力する (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi raataa (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es azacanear (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it ingegnarsi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · vi cố gắng (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi taistella (to struggle in opposition) · ar جَدَّ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · za roengzrengz (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · th เพียร (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar اِجْتَهَدَ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · egy G20-M8-G1-Q3:Z7-Z9-A24 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fr s'appliquer (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sh téžiti (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ja 闘う (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fa تلاش کردن (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · bg стремя́ се (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · txb lāl- (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cmn 努力 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · zdj uwana na (to struggle in opposition) · es pugnar (to struggle in opposition) · oc luchar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · bg старая се (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ka მცდელობა (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · kix āngtsō (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sl stremeti (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru боро́ться (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sk bojovať (to struggle in opposition) · it dare il massimo (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · be намага́цца (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi pyrkiä (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it sforzarsi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · id bersusah payah (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk дба́ти (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · be дбаць (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · id memperjuangkan (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi urakoida (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar حَرَصَ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · za haenqrengz (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · hi प्रयास करना (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar كَافَحَ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru закатать рукава (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sh те́жити (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca maldar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · da hige efter (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sl prizadevati si (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mi oke (to struggle in opposition) · es echarle ganas (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · uk пра́гнути (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es empeñarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · da arbejde med stor anstrengelse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de sich einsetzen gegen (to struggle in opposition) · th พยายาม (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pl pragnąć (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es afanar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mn ᠵᠢᠳᠬᠦᠬᠦ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ru прилага́ть уси́лия (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es procurar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ca júnyer (to struggle in opposition) · ga bí ag coimhlint (to struggle in opposition) · be імкну́цца (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pl usiłować (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es aplicarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · grc ἐρίζω (to struggle in opposition) · sga ad·cosnai (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ba тырышыу (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mi ngaki (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es pretender (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi tehdä hartiavoimin töitä (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sk usilovať sa (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ko 노력하다 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es esmerarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · hi उद्यम करना (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · la nītor (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · io luctar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · io esforcar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · de sich einsetzen für (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · te కష్టించు (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · oc s'esforçar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es deslomarse (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sv ge järnet (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · mi oke (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · it arrabattarsi (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · pt batalhar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · got 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐍆𐍃𐍄𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to struggle in opposition) · cmn 掙 /挣 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · cmn 力圖 /力图 (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · es romperse el lomo (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ang flītan (to struggle in opposition) · es pugnar (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ja 努める (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · ar جَاهَدَ (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · shn ၶတ်းၸႂ် (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · fi yrittää (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort) · sv sträva (to sincerely try to achieve, to make one's best effort)

strive en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈstɹaɪv/

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, obsolete) Alternative form of strife.
   alt of strife

Forms