DictionaryAI

endeavour

Sayin-DEV-uhUK/ɪnˈdɛv.ə//ɪnˈdev.ə/in-DEV-er/ɪnˈdɛv.ɚ/

Pluralendeavours

Verbendeavours, endeavouring, endeavoured

US spellingendeavor

2 meanings of endeavour

Practice

  1. 1
    effortnouncountable or uncountable
    A serious effort to reach a goal, or steady hard work.

    Climbing the mountain was a long endeavour that took three weeks.

    We wish you luck in all your future endeavours.

    UsagePeople say in an endeavour to do something, or wish you luck in future endeavours.

    Similareffort, attempt, bid, undertaking

    Note
  2. 2
    try hardverbintransitive
    To try very hard to do something.

    We will endeavour to answer every email within two days.

    She endeavoured to finish the race even though her knee hurt.

    UsageSay endeavour to do something. It is a more serious word for try.

    Similarstrive, try, attempt, seek, aim

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Origin

The verb started out in Middle English as endeveren, 'to make an effort', which was based on in dever, a phrase meaning 'in duty'. The noun was formed from the verb.