strive

To exert much effort or energy; endeavor.

To struggle or fight forcefully; contend.

A striving; an effort; a strife.

To make strenuous effort; endeavor earnestly; labor hard; do one’s endeavor; try earnestly and persistently: followed by an infinitive: as, he strove hard to win the prize; to strive to excel; to strive to pay one’s way.

To contend; straggle; battle; fight: followed by with, against, or for: as, to strive against fate; to strive for the truth.

To vie; contend for preëminence: with with.

To quarrel or contend with one another; be at variance one with another, or come to be so; be in contention, dispute, or altercation.

To oppose by contrariety of qualities: with with.

Synonyms Undertake, Endeavor, etc.(see attempt); seek, aim, toil.

To compete, contest.