Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

strive

/ˈstɹaɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.72 in modern English

Syllables: strive
IPA: /ˈstɹaɪv/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.

verb

To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.

verb

To vie; to compete as a rival.

noun

Alternative form of strife.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"He strove to excel."
"We strive for the truth."
"Though the writer has striven to dwell on aspects that have passed, or are passing away, it will be apparent that many features of Midland practice have been adopted as standard for the L.M.S.R. and other railways."
"Moreover, on several occasions, terminus stations such as Nine Elms, Bishop's Bridge, Maiden Lane and Bishopgate were built rather further away from the centre of London, only to be dispensed with as the various railway companies strove to get as near as possible to the lucrative markets of the City and the West End."
"to strive against fate"
"Now private pity strove with public hate, / Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate."

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: striven, estriver, *strīban, *strībaną, *stribēn, *stribāną

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

strives (present, singular) striving (participle, present) strove (past) strived (past) striven (participle, past) strived (participle, past) strove (colloquial, nonstandard) no-table-tags (table tags) glossary (inflection template) strove (first person, past) strived (first person, past) strove (past, second person)

Derived Forms

gainstrive overstrive restrive striver strivingly unstriving upstrive

Phrases

do not sit in Rome and strive with the Pope

Frequently Paired Words

strife

Synonyms

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

Rhymes With

live five dr drive alive survive arrive dive thrive revive clive derive

Questions

How do you pronounce strive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈstɹaɪv/.
What does strive mean?: To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
Where does strive come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce strive

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “strive”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈstɹaɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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