Definition of STRIVE

strive

Plural: strives

Verb

Verb Forms: strove, strived, striven, striving, strives

  • To exert great effort or energy; to try hard.
  • attempt by employing effort
  • to exert much effort or energy
  • To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
  • To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
  • To vie; to compete as a rival.

Noun

  • Alternative form of strife.

Examples

  • He strove to excel.
  • to strive against fate
  • To truly master Scrabble, one must STRIVE for both vocabulary and strategic tile placement.
  • We strive for the truth.

Origin / 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.

Synonyms

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

Scrabble Score: 9

strive: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
strive: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
strive: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

strive: valid Words With Friends Word