Endeavor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /in-ˈde-vər/ en·deav·or

Meaning & Definition of Endeavor

Endeavor (verb)

  1. to seriously or continually try (to do something)
  2. to strive to achieve or reach
  3. to work with set purpose

Endeavor (noun)

  1. serious determined effort
  2. activity directed toward a goal, enterprise

Endeavor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an effort to do or accomplish something

    "the hope that this latest endeavor will yield much information about the atmosphere of the planet"

    similar: assay (archaic), attempt, bash (chiefly British), bid, crack, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl
    related: striving, struggle, throes, undertaking, trial and error

Endeavor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to devote serious and sustained effort

    "the trapped climber endeavored mightily to get the boulder to budge"

    similar: bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, fag, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, sweat blood
    related: apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, essay, try, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade
    near: break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about (British), mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

  2. to make an effort to do

    "our club is forever endeavoring to find ways to raise more money for activities"

    similar: assay, attempt, essay, seek, strive, try, have a go at, shoot at, try one's hand (at)
    related: fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up, undertake
    near: drop, give up, quit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Endeavor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Endeavor:

Archaic: assay
Chiefly British: bash
attempt, bid, crack, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack, whirl, bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, fag, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work, seek, sweat blood

Related Words for Endeavor

striving, throes, undertaking, trial and error, apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in, attack, drive, exercise, exert, overexert, overwork, eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch, trudge, wade, fight, trouble, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up

Near Antonyms of Endeavor

break, ease (up), let up, slacken, bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out, bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind, dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble

Word Forms of Endeavor

Inflections: endeavored, endeavoring

Origin & Etymology of Endeavor

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

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Endeavor

Frequently Asked Questions about Endeavor

What does "Endeavor" mean?

"Endeavor" means to seriously or continually try (to do something). As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to seriously or continually try (to do something). It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Endeavor"?

Other words for "Endeavor" include assay, attempt, bash, bid, crack, essay, fling and go. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Endeavor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Endeavor"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Endeavor". Common alternatives include assay, attempt, bash, bid, crack, essay, fling, go, offer and pass.

How do you use "Endeavor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Endeavor" in a sentence: "the hope that this latest endeavor will yield much information about the atmosphere of the planet"; "the trapped climber endeavored mightily to get the boulder to budge"; "our club is forever endeavoring to find ways to raise more money for activities".

Is "Endeavor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Endeavor" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Endeavor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Endeavor" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Endeavor"?

"Endeavor" is pronounced /in-ˈde-vər/ and divided into syllables as en·deav·or.

What is the origin of the word "Endeavor"?

"Endeavor" comes from Middle English endeveren to exert oneself, from en- + dever duty devoir. First known use: 15th centuryt.