endeavor

1 of 2

verb

en·​deav·​or in-ˈde-vər How to pronounce endeavor (audio)
endeavored; endeavoring in-ˈde-v(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce endeavor (audio)
Synonyms of endeavornext

transitive verb

1
: to attempt (something, such as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort
endeavors to finish the race
2
archaic : to strive to achieve or reach

intransitive verb

: to work with set purpose

endeavor

2 of 2

noun

1
: serious determined effort
2
: activity directed toward a goal : enterprise
fields of endeavor

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of endeavor in a Sentence

Verb 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
The school endeavors to teach students to be good citizens.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Leighton said that’s exactly the kind of etiquette slight people need to endeavor to avoid. — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 23 July 2025 Dissatisfied with the quality of the day’s commercial recordings, Paul, who’d worked with pop stars including Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, and was a guitar virtuoso and bandleader, endeavored to push the practice forward — to make recording a kind of erudite art form. — Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Noun
To help you with this endeavor, here are two true stories that illustrate the protective power that good health insurance policies can provide for retirees who aren’t yet eligible for Medicare at age 65. — Steve Vernon, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 The endeavor was designed to challenge him physically and mentally in the name of longevity, and so Hemsworth went as far as climbing up a 100-foot rope that was dangling from a cable car in the middle of a thousand-foot canyon. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for endeavor

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of endeavor was in the 15th century

Rhymes for endeavor

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Browse Nearby Words

endear to
endeavor
Endeavor River pear
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Cite this Entry

“Endeavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endeavor. Accessed 16 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

endeavor

verb
en·​deav·​or
in-ˈdev-ər
endeavored; endeavoring
-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to make an effort : try
2
: to work for a particular goal or result
endeavor noun

More from Merriam-Webster on endeavor

Nglish: Translation of endeavor for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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