streven

Streven is a Dutch verb meaning to strive, to endeavor, or to aim for a goal. It conveys sustained effort and persistence toward a desired outcome and is used in personal, social, and political contexts.

In usage, streven is typically followed by the preposition naar to indicate the target of the striving, as in "streven naar vrede" (to strive for peace) or "streven naar verbetering." It can also appear with an infinitive construction to express intention, such as "streven om een doel te bereiken," but the naar-phrase is more common in everyday Dutch.

The noun form is het streven, referring to the act or state of striving—the ongoing pursuit of a goal. The present tense form is streeft, and past forms vary by dialect, but in standard usage the distinction is clear and regular.

Etymology and cognates: Streven is a Germanic verb and is cognate with the German streben and the English strive. The concept is widely used in literature, philosophy, and everyday speech to describe ambition, effort, and long-term aims.