What does "strive" mean?

1. (to try hard) to try very hard to do or get something. 2. (to compete or struggle) to compete with someone or struggle against something.

How do you use "strive"?

Often followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive with 'to'. Usually takes the preposition 'with' or 'against'.

Is it correct to say "They strive to success."?

No — say "They strive for success.". Use 'strive for' followed by a noun, or 'strive to' followed by a verb.

strive

US //ˈstɹaɪv// UK //stɹˈaɪv// strive

Irregular verb past strove past participle striven

1 to try hard (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to try very hard to do or get something.

to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something; to exert oneself vigorously.

Example

We must strive for a better future for our children.

Example

The organisation continues to strive for excellence in every aspect of its operations, despite the significant budgetary constraints it faces.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive with 'to'.
- neglect
- surrender
Pitfall

They strive to success.

They strive for success.

Use 'strive for' followed by a noun, or 'strive to' followed by a verb.
2 to compete or struggle (v.)
C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

to compete with someone or struggle against something.

to struggle in opposition or to contend in rivalry.

Example

The two athletes strove against each other for the gold medal.

Example

In his poetry, he describes the human spirit as it strives against the inevitable passage of time and the fading of memory.

Usage

Usually takes the preposition 'with' or 'against'.

Teacher's tip

This sense is largely literary; in modern speech, 'compete' or 'struggle' is much more common.
- cooperate
- agree

Origin

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.