endeavor Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
    endeavour; enterprise.
    • he had doubts about the whole enterprise
  2. noun earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
    try; effort; attempt; endeavour.
    • made an effort to cover all the reading material
    • wished him luck in his endeavor
    • she gave it a good try
  3. verb attempt by employing effort
    endeavour; strive.
    • we endeavor to make our customers happy

WordNet

En*deav"or transitive verb
Etymology
OE. endevor; pref. en- + dever, devoir, duty, F. devoir: cf. F. se mettre en devoir de faire quelque chose to try to do a thing, to go about it. See Devoir, Debt.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Endeavored ; present participle & verbal noun Endeavoring
Definitions
  1. To exert physical or intellectual strength for the attainment of; to use efforts to effect; to strive to achieve or reach; to try; to attempt.
    It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects. Ld. Chatham.
    Latimer.
En*deav"or intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To exert one's self; to work for a certain end.
    And such were praised who but endeavored well. Pope.
    Usually with an infinitive; as, to endeavor to outstrip an antagonist.
    He had . . . endeavored earnestly to do his duty. Prescott.
     Syn. -- To attempt; try; strive; struggle; essay; aim; seek.
En*deav"or noun
Etymology
Written also endeavour.
Definitions
  1. An exertion of physical or intellectual strength toward the attainment of an object; a systematic or continuous attempt; an effort; a trial.
    To employ all my endeavor to obey you. Sir P. Sidney.
    Fuller. Syn. -- Essay; trial; effort; exertion. See Attempt.

Webster 1913