anstreben

Anstreben is a German verb meaning to strive for something, to endeavour to obtain, or to set as a goal. It conveys deliberate effort aimed at achieving a future state or outcome and is often used to express ambition, planning, or long-term aims.

Etymology and usage notes: the word combines the prefix an- with the verb streben (to strive). It is used transitively, typically with a direct object that names the goal or objective: beispielsweise eine Beförderung anstreben, eine bessere Bildung anstreben, oder eine friedliche Lösung anstreben. The related construction nach etwas streben, streben nach, is also common for more general or abstract goals, as in nach Erfolg streben or nach Freiheit streben.

Grammatical form and varieties: anstreben appears across tenses like other German verbs, with examples such as "Ich strebe eine Beförderung an" or "Sie strebt nach Anerkennung." The perfect tense is often formed with haben and angestrebt: "Sie hat eine Beförderung angestrebt." The noun form is das Bestreben, meaning the endeavor or the striving itself, as in "Sein Bestreben war es, die Umwelt zu schützen," or the broader concept "das Streben nach Glück."

Usage and nuance: anstreben is typically used in formal, academic, or policy-oriented writing, but it also appears in everyday language to express intentional goal-oriented action. It emphasizes deliberate pursuit rather than incidental outcomes. Related expressions include streben nach, nach etwas streben, und Bestreben, which cover related shades of ambition and goal orientation.