strive
/ˈstɹaɪv/ verb
Forms strives striving strove strived striven
- verb To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently. “He strove to excel.”
- verb To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest. “to strive against fate”
- verb To vie; to compete as a rival.
Synonyms
seek pursue reach for 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 endeavor endeavour reach strain
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.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard.
- verb 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.
- noun An effort; a striving. [R.] Chapman.
- noun Strife; contention. [Obs.] Wyclif (luke xxi. 9).
Etymology [OF. estriver; of Teutonic origin, and akin to G. streben, D. streven, Dan. stræbe, Sw. sträfva. Cf. Strife.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “strive”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details