Showing results for "endeavour"

• a variation of endeavor.

endeavour

British  

/ ɪnˈdɛvə /

verb

1. to try (to do something)

---

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

Scientists are also trying to fight disease, though that's an expensive and laborious endeavour, which for most species buys only a little more time.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 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

The Charlton man provides physicality and endeavour and will pop up with the odd goal here and there - his record of 10 in 49 caps is not to be sniffed at.

From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026

It was quite in vain for me to endeavour to make him sensible that he ought to speak to Miss Havisham.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens