# striving

/ˈstɹaɪvɪŋ/ (US) · /stɹˈaɪvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/striving
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. great effort

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of working very hard to reach a goal or to be successful.

For teachers: the exertion of significant effort or energy toward an objective. Often uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of ambition.

- Her constant striving for perfection made her a great artist but also very tired.
- The philosopher argued that human happiness is found not in the achievement of a goal, but in the constant striving toward it.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'after'.

## Examples

- Success comes from constant striving and hard work.
- The company's culture is defined by a constant striving for excellence in every department.
- Philosophers often debate whether human happiness lies in the achievement of a goal or in the perpetual striving toward an ideal that remains forever out of reach.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.