Attempt vs Endeavor vs Seek vs Strive vs Test

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Attempt

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Endeavor

Formal Top 3,000 (common) B1

Seek

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Strive

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Test

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Most formal: Endeavor Most common: Test

	Attempt	Endeavor	Seek	Strive	Test
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtempt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtempt/"]/	🇬🇧 //ɪnˈdɛv.ər// 🇺🇸 //ɪnˈdɛv.ɚ//	🇬🇧 /["/siːk/","/siːks/","/sɔːt/","/ˈsiːkɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/siːk/","/siːks/","/sɔːt/","/ˈsiːkɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/test/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/test/"]/
Meaning	To try to do something.	To try hard to do something.	To look for something or try to find it.	To work hard to achieve something.	An exam to check knowledge or skills.
Example	Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges.	We will endeavor to meet the project deadline.	I need to seek help from a professional for my anxiety.	We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.	I have a math test tomorrow and I need to study.
Register	Neutral	Formal	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	B1	B2	C1	A1
Part of speech	noun		verb	verb	noun
Collocations	successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt, successful, abortive, botched, make, succeed in, abandon, succeed, fail, in an/​the attempt, attempt at, attempt by, an attempt on somebody’s life, at the first, second, etc. attempt, in the first, second, etc. attempt	make an endeavor, a noble endeavor, personal endeavor	aggressively, avidly, eagerly, continue to, for, in, highly sought after	hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for	demanding, difficult, gruelling/​grueling, do, sit, take, result, score, conditions, in a/​the test, on a/​the test, test in, exhaustive, extensive, rigorous, number, series, have, undergo, carry out, take place, confirm something, demonstrate something, result, data, statistics, test for, test on, exhaustive, extensive, rigorous, number, series, have, undergo, carry out, take place, confirm something, demonstrate something, result, data, statistics, test for, test on, good, critical, crucial, pose, provide, put somebody/​something to the test, case, the acid test, the litmus test, stand the test of time
Antonyms	abandon, give up, quit	abandon, give up, stop	ignore, neglect, overlook	relax, surrender, give up	guess, ignore, neglect
Common mistakes	'Attempted to' is often confused with 'tried to'., Learners sometimes use 'attempt' without an object, which is incorrect., Confusion between 'attempt' (to try) and 'achieve' (to succeed).	Confused with 'endeavor' vs 'endeavoured'; not all varieties use the British spelling., Using 'endeavor' without stating what is being endeavored., Incorrectly using 'endeavor' in everyday casual speech.	Confused with 'look for' — 'seek' is more formal., Using 'seek' without an object — it usually needs something to seek., Mixing 'seek' with 'find' — they have different meanings.	'Strive' is often confused with 'strive for'; remember it needs 'to' before a verb., Some learners use 'strived' as the past tense, but it's 'strove' or 'strived' depending on context., Mixing up 'strive' with 'thrive' due to similar sounds.	Confused with 'testify' — they mean different things., Using 'test' as a countable noun incorrectly., Mixing up 'tested' and 'testing’ in verb forms.
Usage notes	Use 'attempt' when referring to trying to achieve something, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts but may sound a bit formal in casual conversation.	Use in formal contexts, such as academic settings or professional writing. Avoid in casual conversations.	Use 'seek' in formal or neutral contexts. It is not common in everyday conversations. Instead, you might say 'look for'. Avoid using it in very casual situations.	Use 'strive' in contexts where you want to emphasize effort towards a goal. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations but may sound overly dramatic for casual conversations.	Used in educational contexts for quizzes or exams. Can also refer to trials in scientific or real-world situations. Avoid in informal contexts unless using slang.

Frequently asked questions: Attempt vs Endeavor vs Seek vs Strive vs Test

What's the difference between Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test?

Attempt: To try to do something. Endeavor: To try hard to do something. Seek: To look for something or try to find it. Strive: To work hard to achieve something. Test: An exam to check knowledge or skills.

Which is more formal: Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test?

Endeavor is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test?

Test is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test?

Strive is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test the same CEFR level?

Attempt: B2, Endeavor: B1, Seek: B2, Strive: C1, Test: A1 on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Attempt: Her attempt to climb the mountain was met with several challenges. Endeavor: We will endeavor to meet the project deadline. Seek: I need to seek help from a professional for my anxiety. Strive: We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. Test: I have a math test tomorrow and I need to study.

Can I use Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test interchangeably?

Not always. Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Test are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.