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

Castlelake is a US firm, although it has previously outlined how it would endeavour to comply with this rule.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

But the singer made sure fans knew they were the most important element of the whole endeavour.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

Simon Dowson, from Prodrive, said everyone at the north Oxfordshire firm was "very proud and honoured to be part of such an endeavour".

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

“Well!” said Herbert, getting up with a lively shake as if he had been asleep, and stirring the fire, “now I’ll endeavour to make myself agreeable again!”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens