endeavors

1. 1
   effortsnoun

   Plural of endeavor.

   His scientific endeavors eventually earned him wide recognition.

   The charity supports educational endeavors across the region.

   Note

   This is the US spelling of the plural; British English writes endeavours for the same word. In the plural the noun usually names whole undertakings rather than single tries, and it pairs readily with an adjective naming the field: scientific endeavors, educational endeavors, artistic endeavors. The singular keeps more of the sense of one sincere, determined attempt.

2. 2
   tries hardverb

   Third-person singular simple present of endeavor.

   The committee endeavors to resolve every dispute fairly.

   Each year the foundation endeavors to reach more families in need.

   Note

   In modern use the verb is almost always followed by to and another verb: the committee endeavors to resolve, the foundation endeavors to reach. An older transitive use, with the thing attempted placed directly after the verb as its object, is now obsolete, so a natural sentence needs the infinitive. The spelling follows the same US–British split as the plural noun.

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