Endeavor Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ɛnˈdeɪvər/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A sustained effort or activity to achieve a goal or solve a problem, often requiring dedication, persistence, and hard work.

Examples

• The team’s endeavor to develop a new vaccine required years of research and experimentation.
• The entrepreneur’s endeavor to start a new business was met with numerous challenges.

Synonyms

• Effort
• Attempt

Antonyms

• Laziness
• Inactivity

Additional Information

An endeavor often requires a clear objective, a well-defined plan, and a commitment to seeing it through to completion. It can be a challenging and demanding process, but the rewards can be substantial.

In many cases, an endeavor involves overcoming obstacles, learning from failures, and adapting to changing circumstances. It requires a growth mindset, resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks.

Etymology

The word “endeavor” comes from the Old French “endevor,” meaning “to strive” or “to make an effort.” It is derived from the Latin “induovere,” meaning “to put on” or “to undertake.”

Usage Notes

An endeavor can be a formal or informal activity, and it can be undertaken by an individual or a group. It can be a short-term or long-term effort, depending on the goal and the scope of the project.

In formal contexts, such as business or academia, an endeavor may be referred to as a “project” or an “initiative.” In informal contexts, it may be referred to as a “personal goal” or a “challenge.”

Cultural References

The Starship Endeavour is a fictional spaceship in the Star Trek franchise, symbolizing humanity’s endeavor to explore the galaxy.

The Endeavour Crater on Mars is a geological formation named after the HMS Endeavour, a British Royal Navy research vessel that sailed to Australia in the 18th century.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• to endeavor to do something
• an endeavor in vain

Related Words or Phrases

• Pursuit
• Quest
• Undertaking

Collocations

• make an endeavor
• engage in an endeavor
• pursue an endeavor

Frequency of Use

The word “endeavor” is moderately common in formal and informal writing, with an estimated frequency of 0.0006% in the Corpus of Contemporary American English.

Common Misspellings

• Endevor
• Endeavour (British English)