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