endeavour
Britishverb
noun
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scotland's strength is their endeavour, their hard work, their passion, but those things only get you so far.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 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
"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
Is the internet free-for-all going to kill off the very musical endeavour most beloved of its young pirates?
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
