endeavor

American  

[en-dev-er] / ɛnˈdɛv ər /

especially British, endeavour

verb (used without object)

1. to exert oneself to do or effect something; make an effort; strive.

   We must constantly endeavor if we are to succeed.

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verb (used with object)

1. to attempt; try.

   He endeavors to keep things neat in his apartment.

2. Archaic. to attempt to achieve or gain.

noun

endeavors plural

1. a strenuous effort; attempt.

Synonym Usage

See try. See effort.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• endeavorer
  noun
• preendeavor
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• endeavors
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

endeavor endeavors

In this year’s special end-of-term series, we endeavor to answer that question.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026

While Johnson’s antiaging experiment captivated viewers, many turned skeptical of his endeavor once he began selling products, which now range from olive oil to GLP-1s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

At a university famous for its role in left-wing activism during the 1960s free speech movement and anti-Vietnam War protests, Pelosi vows to promote a nonpartisan academic endeavor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

The fast-food company also recently has been bulking up technology and artificial-intelligence capabilities, looking to move more capital involved in the endeavor.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

Unlike almost any other underwater endeavor of its kind, 92 nearly full skeletons associated with specific individuals were assembled.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

A slew of “SNL” castmates, alumni and hosts filled the comments section of Fineman’s post, wishing the comedian luck in future endeavors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026

“These wars served as springboard for the United States to engage in widespread global diplomatic endeavors and allowed them to become a stronger nation as a whole.”

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

Equity is good for risky endeavors because it doesn’t have to be paid back like debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 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

Related Words

• aim
• effort
• enterprise
• struggle
• undertaking
• venture