endeavour
gb/ɪndˈɛvɚ/ us/ɪndˈɛvɚ/
B2
English
~ 4400
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
Try hard to achieve
To try very hard to do something.
Usage pattern:
to endeavour to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'endeavour' with 'adventure' due to similar sounds, but 'endeavour' means effort, not a trip or experience.
Synonyms
strive (Often suggests long-term or ongoing effort toward a goal.)
Antonyms
neglect (Means to fail to give attention or effort to something.)
Collocations
endeavour to improve
|endeavour to ensure
|endeavour to achieve
|endeavour to complete
Themes
work
|goals
|personal_development
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The team will endeavour to finish the project by Friday.
- She endeavoured to explain the complex idea in simple terms.
- We must endeavour to maintain high standards of service.
- They are endeavouring to reduce their carbon footprint.
- I will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible.
Learner examples
- I will endeavour to help you.
- She endeavoured to learn French.
- They endeavour to arrive on time.
- We will endeavour to answer your questions.
- He endeavoured to fix the computer.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
An effort or attempt
An act of trying hard to do something.
Usage pattern:
an endeavour to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'endeavour' with 'enterprise'; 'enterprise' can mean a business, while 'endeavour' focuses on the effort itself.
Synonyms
effort (More general and commonly used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
idleness (Refers to a lack of effort or activity.)
Collocations
scientific endeavour
|joint endeavour
|human endeavour
|artistic endeavour
Themes
work
|goals
|personal_development
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The charity is a community-led endeavour to help the homeless.
- Space exploration is a complex and costly endeavour.
- Her latest novel is an ambitious literary endeavour.
- The project was a joint endeavour between two universities.
- They praised his lifelong endeavour to promote peace.
Learner examples
- Helping the poor is a good endeavour.
- This book is my new endeavour.
- The project is a big endeavour for us.
- Learning English is an important endeavour for me.
- The team started a new business endeavour.
Grammar
Dictionary form
endeavour
IPA
GB/ɪndˈɛvɚ/
US/ɪndˈɛvɚ/
Syllables & stress
en - deav - our (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (deav)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: endeavour
- Plural: endeavours
Verb
- Base: endeavour
- 3rd Person Singular: endeavours
- Present Participle: endeavouring
- Past: endeavoured
Word family
Forms
endeavours
noun
endeavouring
verb
endeavoured
verb
Related words
endeavor
verb C1
Expressions
human endeavour
1/hjˈumən ɪndˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
All human efforts collectively
All the things people try to do and achieve.
Examples
- Science is one of the greatest achievements of human endeavour.
- Art has been a part of human endeavour since ancient times.
in every endeavour
1/ˈɪn ˈɛvɹi ɪndˈɛvɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
In all efforts or attempts
In all the things someone tries to do.
Examples
- In every endeavour, preparation is the key to success.
- He showed great integrity in every endeavour he undertook.