strive

UK: /ˈstraɪv/ US: /straɪv/ ,(strīv)

Inflections of 'strive' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

strives

v 3rd person singular

striving

v pres p

strove

v past

strived

v past

striven

v past p (v past p)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

strive /straɪv/   v., strove/stroʊv/   or strived, striv•en /ˈstrɪvən/  or strived, striv•ing. 

1. to try hard: [~ + for + object]
   to strive for success.
   [~ + to + verb]
   What makes him strive to do so well?
2. to oppose in battle or conflict;
   compete:
   [~ + against + object] to strive against fate.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

strive (strīv),  v.i., strove or strived, striv•en 

(striv′ən) or strived, striv•ing. 
1. to exert oneself vigorously;
   try hard:
   He strove to make himself understood.
2. to make strenuous efforts toward any goal:
   to strive for success.
3. to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict;
   compete.
4. to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance:
   to strive against fate.
5. to rival;
   vie.
• Gmc; compare obsolete Dutch strijven, German streben to strive
• Old French estriver to quarrel, compete, strive
• Middle English striven 1175–1225
striv′er, n. 
striv′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms
• 1. See try. 
• 2. toil.
• 3. struggle, fight.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

strive / straɪv/ verb (strives, striving, strove, striven / ˈstrɪv^ən/)

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to make a great and tenacious effort
2. (intransitive) to fight; contend

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French estriver, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German streben to strive, Old Norse strītha to fight

ˈstriver noun