strive
STRYV
/straɪv/
To make strenuous efforts toward achieving or obtaining something.
Emphasizes the arduous effort and potential resistance overcome during the attempt.
The story behind the word. Originally brought to English from Old French, where it meant to quarrel or contend aggressively with a rival. In English, the focus gradually smoothed out from fighting opponents to fighting against difficulty itself to reach a goal.
Word relationships
- endeavor: 'Endeavor' sounds slightly more formal and duty-bound; 'strive' suggests raw physical or mental exertion.
- attempt: 'Attempt' carries no inherent tone of intense effort, while 'strive' implies total exertion.
- surrender: To yield or stop putting forth effort.
- slack off: To reduce effort or become lazy.
Commonly confused with
- strife: 'Strife' is a noun meaning bitter conflict, while 'strive' is a verb meaning to make strong effort.
Word family
- striving (noun): Great effort or struggle towards a goal.
Collocations
- strive for excellence
- strive to achieve
- strive against odds
Idioms & expressions
- strive against the stream
Example sentences
- "We must strive constantly to build a society where justice flows like a stream." Civil rights speech
- "The institute strives for excellence in every scientific research project." Academic excellence
Memory hook
STRIVE sounds like STRIDE — taking long, forceful strides toward a distant peak. Strive = struggle forward with high effort.
When not to use
Do not use for easy or effortless tasks like 'I strive to open the door'.
Fun facts
- 'Strive' is an irregular verb: strive, strove, striven.
Related words
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