Cool MateStrive vs Toil
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Strive
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Toil
Top 3,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Strive
| Strive | Toil | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɔɪl//🇺🇸 //tɔɪl// |
| Meaning | To work hard to achieve something. | To work very hard or struggle. |
| Example | We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. | She had toiling hours on the farm from dawn to dusk. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for | toil away, toil in the fields, toil for success |
| Antonyms | relax, surrender, give up | rest, idle, relax |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Confused with 'boil' in pronunciation., Using it in a context where less effort is implied., Misunderstanding it as only physical labor. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often emphasizes hard work or effort over a long period. |
Frequently asked questions: Strive vs Toil
What's the difference between Strive and Toil?
Strive: To work hard to achieve something. Toil: To work very hard or struggle.
Which is more common: Strive and Toil?
Strive is the most common in everyday English.
Are Strive and Toil the same CEFR level?
Strive: C1, Toil: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Strive and Toil interchangeably?
Not always. Strive and Toil 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.