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Strive vs Toil - What's the difference?

strive | toil |

As verbs the difference between strive and toil

is that strive is to try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently while toil is to labour; work.

As nouns the difference between strive and toil

is that strive is an effort; a striving while toil is labour, work.

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".

    Noun

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

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • labour, work
  • * 1908:
  • ...he set to work again and made the snow fly in all directions around him. After some further toil his efforts were rewarded, and a very shabby door-mat lay exposed to view.
  • trouble, strife
  • A net or snare; any thread, web, or string spread for taking prey; usually in the plural.
  • * Denham
  • As a Numidian lion, when first caught, / Endures the toil that holds him.
  • * Dryden
  • Then toils for beasts, and lime for birds, were found.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To labour; work.
  • To struggle.
  • To work (something); often with out .
  • * Holland
  • places well toiled and husbanded
  • * Milton
  • [I] toiled out my uncouth passage.
  • To weary through excessive labour.
  • * Shakespeare
  • toiled with works of war

    Synonyms

    * , (l)

    See also

    * toil and moil

    Anagrams

    * ----