Attempt vs Endeavor vs Seek vs Strive vs Try

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

Try

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 verb

Most formal: Endeavor Most common: Try

	Attempt	Endeavor	Seek	Strive	Try
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/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/traɪ/","/traɪz/","/traɪd/","/ˈtraɪɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/traɪ/","/traɪz/","/traɪd/","/ˈtraɪɪŋ/"]/
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.	to make an effort to do something
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 will try my best to finish the project on time.
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	verb
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	desperately, frantically, furiously, decide to, dare (somebody) to, bother to, be just trying to do something, be only trying to do something, give up trying, desperately, frantically, furiously, decide to, dare (somebody) to, bother to, be just trying to do something, be only trying to do something, give up trying
Antonyms	abandon, give up, quit	abandon, give up, stop	ignore, neglect, overlook	relax, surrender, give up	give up, quit, avoid
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.	Using 'try' with a noun instead of a verb (e.g., 'try a bike' instead of 'try riding a bike'), Confusing 'try' with 'test' — 'try' suggests effort, while 'test' implies evaluation, Using 'try' without context, making the intention unclear
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.	Use 'try' when suggesting attempts. It's suitable for informal and formal settings. Avoid using it with absolute outcomes, as it conveys effort rather than guarantee.

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

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

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. Try: to make an effort to do something

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

Endeavor is the most formal of these.

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

Try is the most common in everyday English.

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

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

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

Attempt: B2, Endeavor: B1, Seek: B2, Strive: C1, Try: 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. Try: I will try my best to finish the project on time.

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

Not always. Attempt, Endeavor, Seek, Strive, and Try 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.