Attempt vs Strive

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Attempt

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Strive

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

	Attempt	Strive
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtempt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtempt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To try to do something.	To work hard to achieve something.
Example	Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges.	We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	noun	verb
Collocations	successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt, successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt	hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for
Antonyms	abandon, give up, quit	relax, surrender, give up
Common mistakes	'Attempted to' is often confused with 'tried to'., Learners sometimes use 'attempt' without an object, which is incorrect., Confusion between 'attempt' (to try) and 'achieve' (to succeed).	'Strive' is often confused with 'strive for'; remember it needs 'to' before a verb., Some learners use 'strived' as the past tense, but it's 'strove' or 'strived' depending on context., Mixing up 'strive' with 'thrive' due to similar sounds.
Usage notes	Use 'attempt' when referring to trying to achieve something, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts but may sound a bit formal in casual conversation.	Use 'strive' in contexts where you want to emphasize effort towards a goal. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations but may sound overly dramatic for casual conversations.

See it in real clips

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

The Pitt › S1 E1

- LMA in place. - Suicide attempt?

Top Gear › S1 E1

Final attempt at this. We've been trying to prove

those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers.

The Pitt › S1 E1

- LMA in place. - Suicide attempt?

Attempt

Frequently asked questions: Attempt vs Strive

What's the difference between Attempt and Strive?

Attempt: To try to do something. Strive: To work hard to achieve something.

Which is more advanced: Attempt and Strive?

Strive is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Attempt and Strive the same CEFR level?

Attempt: B2, Strive: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Attempt and Strive?

Attempt: noun, Strive: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Attempt: Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. Strive: We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.

Can I use Attempt and Strive interchangeably?

Not always. Attempt and Strive are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.