strive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb attempt by employing effort
    endeavor; endeavour.
    • we endeavor to make our customers happy
  2. verb to exert much effort or energy
    strain; reach.
    • straining our ears to hear

WordNet

Strive intransitive verb
Etymology
OF. estriver; of Teutonic origin, and akin to G. streben, D. streven, Dan. stræbe, Sw. sträfva. Cf. Strife.
Wordforms
imperfect Strove ; past participle Striven (Rarely, Strove); present participle & verbal noun Striving
Definitions
  1. To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard.
    Was for this his ambition strove To equal Cæsar 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 noun
Definitions
  1. An effort; a striving. R. Chapman.
  2. Strife; contention. Obs. Wyclif (luke xxi. 9).

Webster 1913