strive

(v) - If you strive to do something, you make a great effort to achieve it.

• Synonyms: try, aim, contend, reach, work
• Antonyms: forget, skip, sit back
• Etymology: 1200 Old French, from estriver meaning "to quarrel, dispute," which comes from estrif meaning "quarrel" (which is also where we get the word strife)
• Morphology: striven - past tense verb
• Example: If you truly have ambition, you will work hard and strive for success.