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Strive vs Attain - What's the difference?

strive | attain |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between strive and attain

is that strive is (obsolete) strife; contention while attain is (obsolete) to overtake.

As verbs the difference between strive and attain

is that strive is to try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently while attain is to accomplish; to achieve.

As a noun strive

is (obsolete) an effort; a striving.

strive

English

Verb

  • To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
    • He strove to excel.
  • To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
    • to strive against fate
    to strive for the truth
  • * Denham
    • Now private pity strove with public hate, / Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate.
  • To vie; to compete as a rival.
  • * Milton
    • [Not] that sweet grove / Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired / Castalian spring, might with this paradise / Of Eden strive .

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * The strong or irregular forms "strove" and "striven" are more commonly used in print than "strived".

    Related terms

    * (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An effort; a striving.
    • (Chapman)
  • (obsolete) strife; contention

    • External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * English control verbs English irregular verbs

    attain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To accomplish; to achieve.
    • To attain such a high level of proficiency requires hours of practice each day.
  • To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain.
  • * Fuller
    • not well attaining his meaning
  • To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
  • * Milton
    • Canaan he now attains .
  • * Bible, Psalms cxxxix. 6
    • Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain unto it.
  • To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
  • * Bible, Acts xxvii. 12
    • if by any means they might attain to Phenice
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • Nor nearer might the dogs attain .
  • * Cowper
    • to see your trees attain to the dignity of timber
  • * J. R. Green
    • Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this.
  • To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
  • (obsolete) To overtake.
    • (Francis Bacon)