What does strive mean?
Definitions for strive
straɪv; ˈstrɪv ənstrive
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word strive.
Princeton's WordNet
endeavor, endeavour, striveverb
attempt by employing effort
"we endeavor to make our customers happy"
strive, reach, strainverb
to exert much effort or energy
"straining our ears to hear"
Wiktionary
striveverb
To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
He strove to excel.
striveverb
To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
Etymology: striven "to strive" from estriver "to compete, quarrel" from estrif "quarrel, dispute", alteration (influenced by forms related to * "to strive", compare streven "to strive", streben "to strive") of estrit, of origin, from * "quarrel, dispute" from strīdō. Akin to strit "quarrel" (Streit), stritan "to fight", strið "strife, contention". More at stride.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
To STRIVEverb
Preterite I strove, anciently I strived; part. pass. striven.
Etymology: streven, Dutch; estriver, French.
The immutability of God they strive unto, by working after one and the same manner. Richard Hooker.
Many brave young minds have, through hearing the praises and eulogies of worthy men, been stirred up to affect the like commendations, and so strive to the like deserts. Edmund Spenser.
Strive with me in your prayers to God for me. Rom. xv.
So have I strived to preach the gospel. Rom. xv. 20.
Do as adversaries do in law,
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends. William Shakespeare.Thou art caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord. Jer. l. 24.
Strive for the truth unto death. Ecclus iv. 28.
Why dost thou strive against him? Job xxxiii. 13.
Charge them that they strive not about words to no profit. 2 Tim. ii. 14.
Avoid contentions and strivings about the law. Tit. iii. 9.
This is only warrantable conflict for the trial of our faith; so that these strivings are not a contending with superior powers. Roger L'Estrange.
Thus does every wicked man that contemns God, who can save or destroy him who strives with his Maker. John Tillotson.
Now private pity strove with publick hate,
Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate. John Denham.If intestine broils alarm the hive,
For two pretenders oft for empire strive,
The vulgar in divided factions jar;
And murm’ring sounds proclaim the civil war. Dryden.Nor that sweet grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspir’d
Castalian spring, might with this paradise
Of Eden strive. John Milton, Parad. Lost.
ChatGPT
strive
Strive refers to making great efforts or working hard to achieve or accomplish a goal, task, or objective. It involves determination, diligence, and commitment to overcome challenges or obstacles in pursuing a desired result or outcome.
Webster Dictionary
Striveverb
to make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard
Striveverb
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
Striveverb
to vie; to compete; to be a rival
Strivenoun
an effort; a striving
Strivenoun
strife; contention
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Strive
strīv, v.i. to make efforts (with with, against, for): to endeavour earnestly: to labour hard: to struggle, to fight: to contend: to aim:—pa.t. strōve; pa.p. striv′en.—ns. Strīv′er; Strīv′ing.—adv. Strīv′ingly, with striving, struggles, or earnest efforts. [O. Fr. estriver—estrif, strife—Scand., Ice. strídh, strife.]
British National Corpus
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'strive' in Verbs Frequency: #1095
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Anagrams for strive »
rivets
stiver
verist
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of strive in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of strive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of strive in a Sentence
You know, the thing is, our show is steeped in passion, every week I strive to show the world as I see it, unfiltered. Sometimes I should probably have a filter. I accept that. I take it seriously when I get it right and I do take responsibility when I get it wrong.
As long as they don't strive for independence of Hong Kong with a large number of people, and push mainlanders to revolt against the Chinese Communist Party, I believe the red line is still quite far away.
It will be an issue until we have that realized, it was a commitment made in Wales, to strive for that level.
I hope to bring people closer to nature ... to pass on a message that we all must strive to minimize our impact on the earth.
We have an organization of more than a thousand people, and whenever we hear concerns, we take them seriously. It's important that everyone who is part of our team has a voice and can be heard, that's why we are proud that we have a unionized staff and clear processes for issues to be addressed. We strive for an inclusive environment and work hard to learn and improve.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for strive
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- جد, اجتهد, ناضل, كافح, حرصArabic
- snažit se, usilovat, čelitCzech
- stræbeDanish
- strebenGerman
- strebiEsperanto
- esforzarseSpanish
- تلاشPersian
- yrittää, taistella, kamppailla, ponnistella, pyrkiäFinnish
- s'efforcerFrench
- ձգտելArmenian
- cercare, ambire, lottare, battersi, sforzarsiItalian
- 努める, 闘う, 奮闘Japanese
- تێکۆشانKurdish
- contendunt,Latin
- strevenDutch
- streveNorwegian
- starać sięPolish
- esforçar-se, batalharPortuguese
- стараться, прилагать усилия, бороться, стремитьсяRussian
- usilovať sa, čeliť, bojovať, snažiť saSlovak
- stremetiSlovene
- కష్టించు, కృషి చేయుTelugu
- phấn đấuVietnamese
- 努力Chinese
Get even more translations for strive »
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"strive." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/strive>.
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