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Pursue vs Strive - What's the difference?

pursue | strive |

As verbs the difference between pursue and strive

is that pursue is to follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment while strive is to try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.

As a noun strive is

an effort; a striving.

pursue

English

Verb

(pursu)
  • (obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
  • To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
  • * Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
    • The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued' me, they shall ' pursue you also.
  • * 2009 , Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian , 15 Sep 09:
    • He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
  • To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
    • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
  • * 2009 , Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian , 1 Dec 09:
    • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

    • See also

    * follow * chase

    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