Meaning & use
endeavored
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“endeavored” is a form of “endeavor”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitiveformal
Past tense and past participle of endeavor: made a serious effort to do something.
Grammar: Usually followed by to: she endeavored to finish on time.
Patterns
- endeavored to do something
The committee endeavored to treat every applicant fairly.
We endeavored to reply within two days.
He had endeavored to hide his disappointment.
verbintransitiveliterary
Past tense and past participle of endeavor, used for trying to achieve a goal over time.
Grammar: Often used with an adverb: they endeavored tirelessly.
Patterns
- endeavored to achieve something
She endeavored tirelessly to restore the old theater.
The volunteers endeavored for years to clean the river.
Word forms
| base | endeavor |
|---|---|
| third person singular | endeavors |
| -ing form | endeavoring |
Common combinations
- endeavored to improve
- The school endeavored to improve results.
- endeavored to understand
- She endeavored to understand his point of view.
- always endeavored
- I have always endeavored to be honest.
- endeavored in vain
- They endeavored in vain to find the key.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tried
- It is the plain everyday word and sounds much less formal.
- strove
- It suggests harder, longer struggle than endeavored.
- attempted
- It stresses a single try and may not imply sustained effort.
- sought
- It is followed by to in formal writing too, but often means aimed rather than worked at.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: endeavored or endured?
endeavored vs endured
It means suffered through something unpleasant, not tried to do something.
Practice
The firm ____ to deliver every order on time.
Choose one answer.
Endeavored to means made an effort to. Ensured would need no to, and endured means put up with.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “endeavored”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.