Showing results for "endeavour"

• a variation of endeavor.

endeavour

British  

/ ɪnˈdɛvə /

verb

1. to try (to do something)

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noun

1. an effort to do or attain something

Other Word Forms

• endeavourer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of endeavour

C14: endeveren , from _en- ¹ + -deveren from dever duty, from Old French deveir; see _devoirs

Explanation

To endeavour is to strive for something. The endeavour itself is the thing you're striving for, the enterprise or undertaking. It's a primarily British spelling of the word. The Middle English root of endeavour means to "put oneself in" or "do one's utmost," so if you endeavour to do something, you do it with earnestness and a fair amount of effort. Americans usually spell the word endeavor, but NASA named one of its space shuttles the Endeavour. Why the extra "u"? NASA was honoring the HMS Endeavour, the first ship ever used by the British explorer Captain James Cook.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

endeavour

He said there must be a "collective endeavour across government, especially in relation to wastewater".

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

David Singh, for Ashford, said he had admitted the "endeavour was his idea", and was now "taking responsibility".

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

"I will endeavour in all I do, working constructively with the UK government, to get the best deal for Wales," he said.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

At the same event, Security Minister Dan Jarvis will implore AI firms to work with the government on the "generational endeavour" to make sure AI is used to protect critical networks from attackers.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

At dusk the drums of calamity began; their grave, throbbing rhythm came clearly through the night, throughout the night, each beat, each tattoo, echoing the mighty impotence of our human endeavour.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya