noun
endeavor
ihn-DEHV-uh
noun
1
A serious, determined attempt to achieve something.
"Starting the charity was a personal endeavor she was proud of."
"The rescue mission was a dangerous endeavor."
verb
1
To try hard to do something.
"We will endeavor to reply within 24 hours."
"She endeavored to finish the marathon despite the injury."
How to Use Endeavor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal way of saying "try hard" or "a determined effort."
When to use it
Fairly formal — used in business or official writing more than everyday speech.
UK vs US
This is the American spelling; British English uses "endeavour."
Common pairings
endeavor to do something
a noble endeavor
business endeavor
Word Forms
endeavored past tense, endeavors plural, endeavors singular
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Etymology
From Middle English endeveren, literally "to put oneself in duty" — from in + dever ("duty"), the same root that gives us devoir in French.