¹endeavor

verb en·deav·or \in-ˈde-vər\

: to seriously or continually try to do (something)

en·deav·oreden·deav·or·ing \-v(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of ENDEAVOR

transitive verb

archaic : to strive to achieve or reach

: to attempt (as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort <endeavors to finish the race>

intransitive verb

: to work with set purpose

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Examples of ENDEAVOR

As urbanization advanced, it swept away the distinctive physical and social characteristics of the culture of the past, substituting undifferentiated built environments and standardized patterns of dress and behavior. Hand-camera users endeavored to reaffirm individuality and arrest time in the face of the encroaching depersonalization of existence. —Naomi Rosenblum, A World History of Photography, 1989
At some time in their careers, most good historians itch to write a history of the world, endeavor to discover what makes humanity the most destructive and creative of species. —Paul Johnson, New York Times Book Review, 7 Apr. 1985
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Origin of ENDEAVOR

Middle English endeveren to exert oneself, from en- + dever duty — more at devoir

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ENDEAVOR

Synonyms: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, labor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work

Synonym Discussion of ENDEAVOR

attempt, try, endeavor, essay, strive mean to make an effort to accomplish an end. attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort <will attempt to photograph the rare bird>. try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something <tried to determine which was the better procedure>. endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty <endeavored to find crash survivors in the mountains>. essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting <will essay a dramatic role for the first time>. strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort <continues to strive for peace>.

Rhymes with ENDEAVOR

dissever, forever, however, soever, whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, whomever

²endeavor

noun en·deav·or \in-ˈde-vər\

: a serious effort or attempt

Full Definition of ENDEAVOR

: serious determined effort

: activity directed toward a goal : enterprise <fields of endeavor>

See endeavor defined for English-language learners

Examples of ENDEAVOR

Sgt. Pepper was our grandest endeavor. —Ringo Starr, in The Beatles Anthology, 2000
Science has traditionally accepted the smartest students, the most committed and self-sacrificing researchers, and the cleanest money—that is, money with the fewest political strings attached. In both theory and practice, science in this century has been perceived as a noble endeavor. —Science, 13 Feb. 1998
The miraculous thing I have to report, a secret so precious I hesitate to share it, is how docilely and utterly the critic in one goes to sleep when a creative endeavor is afoot. —John Updike, New York Times Book Review, 21 June 1987
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