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Definition of strive

strive

/straɪv/
strive
Adverb:strivingly
•
Adjective:striving
•
Past Simple:strove
•
Past Participle:striven
•
Present Participle:striving
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strive Lexical Profile

strive Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.

Example

"The organization continues to strive for excellence in environmental conservation."

2

To struggle or fight vigorously against someone or something.

Example

"Generations of scholars have striven against ignorance and superstition."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for strive
Antonyms
View all antonyms for strive

Word Nuance & Usage

While "strove" and "striven" are the traditional irregular past tense and past participle forms, the regularized form "strived" is increasingly accepted in modern English for both functions.

• Rhymes for strive

• Nearby Words

striptease
stripteaser
stripy
strive
striver
strobe
strobilanthes

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English striven, borrowed from Old French estriver ("to quarrel, contend"), which is of Germanic origin and closely related to the noun strife.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Strive. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/strive
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