strive

Universal Words verb (strove against sth) (formal) to try very hard to achieve sth or to defeat sth: [V] We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. * striving against corruption * [Vtoinf] Newspaper editors all strive to be first with a story. * She strove to find a solution that was acceptable to all. striving noun [U,sing.]: our striving for perfection