/ straɪv; NAmE / verb
( strove / strəʊv; NAmE stroʊv/ striven / ˈstrɪvn; NAmE /) or ( less frequent strived , strived ) strive (for / against sth) ( formal ) to try very hard to achieve sth :
[ v ]
We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.
striving against corruption
[ v to inf ]
Newspaper editors all strive to be first with a story.
► striv·ing noun [ U , sing. ]:
our striving for perfection
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : shortening of Old French estriver ; related to estrif strife.