endeavor
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to attempt; try.
He endeavors to keep things neat in his apartment.
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Archaic. to attempt to achieve or gain.
noun
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of endeavor
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English endeveren, from the phrase putten in devoir “to make an effort, assume responsibility”; compare Anglo-French se mettre en deveir. See en- 1, devoir
Explanation
When you endeavor to do something, you try hard to make it happen. A determined student might endeavor to get straight As on her report card. "The ordinary objects of human endeavor — property, outward success, luxury — have always seemed to me contemptible," wrote Albert Einstein. Presumably, NASA had loftier objects in mind when they named one of their space shuttles Endeavour, using the British spelling. The word comes from the Old French phrase mettre en deveir, or "put in duty." As a verb, it's a more impressive word than try and suggests you're doing your darnedest to make something happen.
Vocabulary lists containing endeavor
The Declaration of Independence
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List 8
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In this year’s special end-of-term series, we endeavor to answer that question.
From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026
Transit experts and airport officials believe the 2.25-mile electric train — a roughly $3.3-billion endeavor and the most anticipated project in LAX’s $30-billion overhaul — will significantly improve traffic at 1 World Way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
A real tribute to America is a worthy endeavor.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
We have rediscovered at great cost what Alexander Hamilton taught us: that every nation “ought to endeavor to possess within itself all the essentials of national supply.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
I plan to dedicate all of it to this endeavor.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
CBS News, historically cautious about any endeavors that could tarnish its legacy as a journalism organization, was the last of the traditional networks to get into e-commerce in 2022 after COVID-19 lockdowns depressed ad revenues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Passive-income endeavors aren’t quantified on their own in government labor statistics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Outside of Michigan, there’s little sign of Pulte family financial involvement in Fellowship endeavors.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
He has listed his high school in Hawaii as beneficiary on two of his brokerage accounts, so he’s certainly got a “grá” — that’s Gaelic for deep affection — for charitable endeavors.
From MarketWatch ● May 20, 2026
Mohammed didn’t tell his father about such endeavors, and he certainly didn’t tell him when, a few years later, he decided that he was destined to be the world’s greatest long-distance swimmer.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
