striving

[ strahy-ving ]

noun

1. the act or practice of trying hard to do, reach, or achieve something; vigorous effort:

   In the striving for a just and lasting peace, ten agreements have already been reached by national and rebel forces.

2. the act of fighting or struggling against someone or something; competition, opposition, or battle:

   The pursuit of justice itself, or the striving against injustice, is a path to piety in Judaism.

adjective

1. trying hard; making a vigorous effort to do, reach, or achieve something:

   America is the striving immigrant who starts a business or the mom who works two low-wage jobs to give her kids a better life.

2. fighting or struggling against each other:

   Atonement aims at the unification of striving factions by making amends for whatever caused the trouble.

Other Words From

• striv·ing·ly adverb
• un·striv·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of striving¹

First recorded in 1225–75; striv(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; striv(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

Using his increasing clout to lift up artists striving to achieve their own creative dreams is far more satisfying.

From Los Angeles Times

The prime minister also appears to be striving to frame illegal boat crossings as a law-and-order issue rather than an immigration issue.

From BBC

But he was closer to the Polish American factory parts salesman than more glamorous Hollywood types striving to live up to Brando’s masculine archetype.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching him striving to tell stories through dance and he was striving to show the Black experience in a way.

From Los Angeles Times

Dempsey believes Harris’ proposals to lower taxes for middle-class and working-class Americans and to cut taxes for new small business are evidence of who she is striving to help, compared with Trump.

From Los Angeles Times