Meaning & use
endeavor
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Meanings
verbintransitiveformal
To try hard to achieve or accomplish something difficult.
Grammar: No direct object; followed by a to-infinitive: endeavor to arrive early, not endeavor arriving.
Patterns
- endeavor to do something
We endeavor to answer every message within two days.
She endeavored to stay calm during the interview.
The school endeavors to support each student individually.
nouncountableformal
A serious and continued attempt or effort to achieve something.
Grammar: Has a regular plural, endeavors; often followed by of or to: an endeavor to improve safety.
Patterns
- an endeavor to do something
- a scientific endeavor
- make every endeavor
Writing the book was a personal endeavor that took five years.
Space exploration is a global scientific endeavor.
He made every endeavor to finish the project on time.
Word forms
| third person singular | endeavors |
|---|---|
| past tense | endeavored |
| past participle | endeavored |
| -ing form | endeavoring |
Common combinations
- endeavor to do something
- We endeavor to keep our prices fair.
- a scientific endeavor
- Mapping the ocean floor is a major scientific endeavor.
- a collaborative endeavor
- Building the bridge was a collaborative endeavor between two cities.
- make every endeavor
- She made every endeavor to attend every meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- try
- Everyday and much more common; weaker and less serious than endeavor.
- attempt
- Neutral; often a single effort, while an endeavor is sustained.
- strive
- Also formal and strong, but usually followed by for or a to-infinitive.
- undertake
- Emphasizes taking on a duty or project rather than the effort itself.
Opposites
Commonly confused: endeavor or endeavour?
endeavor vs endeavour
This is simply the British spelling of the same word; the meaning and grammar are identical.
Practice
Which form correctly completes the sentence? 'The airline ______ to compensate passengers for the long delay.'
Choose one answer.
The singular subject 'the airline' needs the third-person -s form in the present tense. The base form 'endeavor' would fit after a modal such as 'will,' but not here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “endeavor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.