Strive word meaning and definition

[verb] to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear."
[verb] attempt by employing effort; "we endeavor to make our customers happy"

\Strive\, v. i. [imp. {Strove}; p. p. {Striven}(Rarely, {Strove}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Striving}.] [OF. estriver; of Teutonic origin, and akin to G. streben, D. streven, Dan. str[ae]be, Sw. str["a]fva. Cf. {Strife}.] 1. To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard. Was for this his ambition strove To equal C[ae]sar 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\, n. 1. An effort; a striving. [R.] --Chapman. 2. Strife; contention. [Obs.] --Wyclif (luke xxi. 9).

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