Strive vs. Try — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
"Strive" implies a strong effort towards a lofty goal, while "try" suggests a general attempt, possibly with less intensity or commitment.
Difference Between Strive and Try
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Key Differences
"Strive" connotes a focused and sustained effort to achieve something challenging or significant, emphasizing determination and persistence. In contrast, "try" is more broadly used to denote making an attempt or effort, regardless of the difficulty or commitment level involved.
When someone says they are striving, it often implies a deeper, more passionate pursuit, with an end goal that requires considerable effort and dedication. On the other hand, saying you are trying something can be seen as less committed, possibly experimenting or giving a task a go without the guarantee of persistence.
"Strive" is frequently associated with overcoming substantial obstacles or reaching high standards. Whereas "try" might be used in everyday contexts where the stakes are not as high or where the outcome is more uncertain.
In motivational contexts, to strive is to push oneself to the limits, often in pursuit of excellence or significant improvement. Meanwhile, to try can simply mean to engage in the process without the pressure of achieving top results.
Educational or professional settings often encourage striving, suggesting a culture of continuous improvement and high achievement. Conversely, in more casual or personal learning scenarios, individuals might be encouraged just to try new things, focusing on the experience rather than the outcome.
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Comparison Chart
Intensity
High, with a focus on achieving goals
Variable, often lower
Commitment
Strong, persistent
May not be persistent
Contexts
Goals requiring substantial effort
General attempts or tests
Connotations
Determination, pursuit of excellence
Experimentation, attempting
Outcome Focus
Often success-oriented
Can be more about the process
Compare with Definitions
Strive
To aim or aspire.
They strive for a fairer society.
Try
To attempt to do or accomplish something.
He tried to lift the heavy box.
Strive
To struggle or fight vigorously.
He strives against the urge to give up.
Try
To put to a test or trial.
Try the new software before buying it.
Strive
To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.
She strives to be the best in her class.
Try
To make an effort or attempt.
She tried hard to solve the puzzle.
Strive
To compete or contend.
Teams striving for the championship title.
Try
To hear and decide (a case or defendant) as a judge.
The judge tried the case without a jury.
Strive
To work hard towards a goal.
She strives every day to improve her skills.
Try
To test the effect or result of (something).
Try this dish—it's delicious.
Strive
Make great efforts to achieve or obtain something
National movements were striving for independence
We must strive to secure steady growth
Try
Make an attempt or effort to do something
I started to try and untangle the mystery
I decided to try writing fiction
He tried to regain his breath
Three times he tried the manoeuvre and three times he failed
Strive
To exert much effort or energy; endeavor.
Try
Subject (someone) to trial
He was arrested and tried for the murder
Strive
To struggle or fight forcefully; contend
Strive against injustice.
Try
Smooth (roughly planed wood) with a plane to give an accurately flat surface.
Strive
To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
He strove to excel.
We strive for the truth.
Try
Extract (oil or fat) by heating
Some of the fat may be tried out and used
Strive
To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
To strive against fate
Try
An effort to accomplish something; an attempt
He got his membership card on his third try
Strive
To vie; to compete as a rival.
Try
An act of touching the ball down behind the opposing goal line, scoring points and entitling the scoring side to a kick at goal.
Strive
To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard.
Was for this his ambition stroveTo equal Cæsar first, and after, Jove?
Try
To make an effort to do or accomplish (something); attempt
Tried to ski.
Strive
To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest; - followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against temptation; strive for the truth.
My Spirit shall not always strive with man.
Why dost thou strive against him?
Now private pity strove with public hate,Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate.
Try
To taste, sample, or otherwise test in order to determine strength, effect, worth, or desirability
Try this casserole.
Strive
To vie; to compete; to be a rival.
[Not] that sweet groveOf Daphne, by Orontes and the inspiredCastalian spring, might with this paradiseOf Eden strive.
Try
To make an effort to open (a closed door or window).
Strive
An effort; a striving.
Try
To conduct the trial of (a legal claim)
To try a negligence case.
Strive
Strife; contention.
Try
To put (an accused person) on trial.
Strive
Attempt by employing effort;
We endeavor to make our customers happy
Try
To subject to great strain or hardship; tax
The last steep ascent tried my every muscle.
Strive
To exert much effort or energy;
Straining our ears to hear
Try
To melt (lard, for example) to separate out impurities; render.
Try
To make an effort; strive
I know it's not easy, but keep trying!.
Try
An attempt; an effort.
Try
(Sports) In rugby, an act of advancing the ball past the opponent's goal line and grounding it there for a score of three points.
Try
To attempt; to endeavour. Followed by infinitive.
I tried to rollerblade, but I couldn’t.
I'll come to dinner soon. I'm trying to beat this level first.
Try
(obsolete) To divide; to separate.
Try
To separate (precious metal etc.) from the ore by melting; to purify, refine.
Try
(one sort from another) To winnow; to sift; to pick out; frequently followed by out.
To try out the wild corn from the good
Try
(nautical) To extract oil from blubber or fat; to melt down blubber to obtain oil
Try
To extract wax from a honeycomb
Try
To test, to work out.
Try
To make an experiment. Usually followed by a present participle.
I tried mixing more white paint to get a lighter shade.
Try
To put to test.
I shall try my skills on this.
Try
(specifically) To test someone's patience.
You are trying my patience.
Don't try me.
Try
To receive an imminent attack; to take.
Try
To taste, sample, etc.
Oh, you need to try the soup of the day!
Try
To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test.
To try weights or measures by a standard;
To try a person's opinions
Try
(with indirect interrogative clause) To attempt to determine (by experiment or effort).
I'll try whether I can make it across town on foot.
Try
(legal) To put on trial.
He was tried and executed.
Try
To experiment, to strive.
Try
To have or gain knowledge of by experience.
Try
To work on something with one's best effort and focus.
Dad, for fuck's sake, I'm trying my best!
You are trying too hard.
Try
(obsolete) To do; to fare.
How do you try! (i.e., how do you do?)
Try
To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms.
To try rival claims by a duel;
To try conclusions
Try
To attempt to conceive a child.
Try
(nautical) To lie to in heavy weather under just sufficient sail to head into the wind.
Try
To strain; to subject to excessive tests.
The light tries his eyes.
Repeated failures try one's patience.
Try
To want
I am really not trying to hear you talk about my mama like that.
Try
An attempt.
I gave unicycling a try but I couldn’t do it.
Try
An act of tasting or sampling.
I gave sushi a try but I didn’t like it.
Try
(rugby) A score in rugby league and rugby union, analogous to a touchdown in American football.
Today I scored my first try.
Try
A screen, or sieve, for grain.
Try
(American football) A field goal or extra point
Try
(chess) A move that almost solves a chess problem, except that Black has a unique defense.
Try
(obsolete) Fine, excellent.
Try
To divide or separate, as one sort from another; to winnow; to sift; to pick out; - frequently followed by out; as, to try out the wild corn from the good.
Try
To purify or refine, as metals; to melt out, and procure in a pure state, as oil, tallow, lard, etc.
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Try
To prove by experiment; to apply a test to, for the purpose of determining the quality; to examine; to prove; to test; as, to try weights or measures by a standard; to try a man's opinions.
Let the end try the man.
Try
To subject to severe trial; to put to the test; to cause suffering or trouble to.
Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased.
These are the times that try men's souls.
Try
To experiment with; to test by use; as, to try a remedy for disease; to try a horse.
Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me.
To ease her cares the force of sleep she tries.
Try
To strain; to subject to excessive tests; as, the light tries his eyes; repeated disappointments try one's patience.
Try
To examine or investigate judicially; to examine by witnesses or other judicial evidence and the principles of law; as, to try a cause, or a criminal.
Try
To settle; to decide; to determine; specifically, to decide by an appeal to arms; as, to try rival claims by a duel; to try conclusions.
Left I the court, to see this quarrel tried.
Try
To experience; to have or gain knowledge of by experience.
Or try the Libyan heat or Scythian cold.
Try
To essay; to attempt; to endeavor.
Let us try . . . to found a path.
He first deceased: she for a little triedTo live without him; liked it not, and died.
Alack, I am afraid they have a waked,And 't is not done. The attempt, and not the deed,Confounds us.
Try
To exert strength; to endeavor; to make an effort or an attempt; as, you must try hard if you wish to learn.
Try
To do; to fare; as, how do you try!
Try
A screen, or sieve, for grain.
Try
Act of trying; attempt; experiment; trial.
This breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.
Try
In Rugby and Northern Union football, a score (counting three points) made by grounding the ball on or behind the opponent's goal line; - so called because it entitles the side making it to a place kick for a goal (counting two points more if successful).
Try
Refined; select; excellent; choice.
Try
Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something;
Made an effort to cover all the reading material
Wished him luck in his endeavor
She gave it a good try
Try
Make an effort or attempt;
He tried to shake off his fears
The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps
The police attempted to stop the thief
He sought to improve himself
She always seeks to do good in the world
Try
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
Try
Put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of;
The football star was tried for the murder of his wife
The judge tried both father and son in separate trials
Try
Take a sample of;
Try these new crackers
Sample the regional dishes
Try
Examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process;
The jury had heard all the evidence
The case will be tried in California
Try
Give pain or trouble to;
I've been sorely tried by these students
Try
Test the limits of;
You are trying my patience!
Try
Melt (fat, lard, etc.) in order to separate out impurities;
Try the yak butter
Render fat in a casserole
Try
Put on a garment in order to see whether it fits and looks nice;
Try on this sweater to see how it looks
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to strive in a professional context?
To strive professionally means to continually seek improvement or advancement in one's career through determined effort.
Is striving always a positive action?
While striving is generally viewed positively, excessive striving without balance can lead to burnout.
Is it better to strive or to try when learning a new skill?
It depends on the individual's goals; striving might lead to quicker mastery, whereas trying could enhance enjoyment and gradual learning.
Can trying be considered a passive action?
Trying is not necessarily passive; it involves active engagement, but the level of effort and commitment can vary.
In what scenarios is it inappropriate to just try?
In high-stakes or critical situations where definitive results are required, merely trying might be insufficient.
How do young students apply the concept of trying?
Young students are often encouraged to try new activities to discover their interests and capabilities.
Do both terms imply success?
Neither term guarantees success, but striving often places a stronger emphasis on achieving specific outcomes.
How does culture influence the perception of trying and striving?
Cultural values can affect how much emphasis is placed on either trying new things or striving for excellence.
Is striving suitable for all age groups?
Yes, individuals of any age can strive towards goals, though the nature of these goals might change with age.
Does trying require less preparation than striving?
Generally, yes, trying may require less preparation as it often involves initial or exploratory efforts.
What are the emotional impacts of not succeeding when striving?
Not achieving goals when striving can lead to disappointment or frustration, but also learning and growth.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
