effort

[ ef-ert ]
See synonyms for: effortefforts on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. exertion of physical or mental power: It will take great effort to achieve victory.

  2. an earnest or strenuous attempt: an effort to keep to the schedule.

  1. something done by exertion or hard work: I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.

  2. an achievement, as in literature or art: The painting is one of his finest efforts.

  3. the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose: the war effort.

  4. Chiefly British.

    • an organized community drive or achievement.

    • a fund-raising drive.

  5. Mechanics. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.

Origin of effort

1
First recorded in 1480–90; from Middle French, from Old French esfort, esforz, derivative of esforcier “to force” (es- ex-1 + forcier force)

synonym study For effort

1. Effort, application, endeavor, exertion imply actions directed or force expended toward a definite end. Effort is an expenditure of energy to accomplish some objective: He made an effort to control himself. Application is continuous effort plus careful attention: constant application to duties. Endeavor means a continued and sustained series of efforts to achieve some, often worthy and difficult, end: a constant endeavor to be useful. Exertion is the vigorous and often strenuous expenditure of energy, frequently without an end: out of breath from exertion.

Other words for effort

Other words from effort

  • coun·ter·ef·fort, noun
  • o·ver·ef·fort, noun
  • pre·ef·fort, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use effort in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for effort

effort

/ (ˈɛfət) /


noun
  1. physical or mental exertion, usually considerable when unqualified: the rock was moved with effort

  2. a determined attempt: our effort to save him failed

  1. achievement; creation: a great literary effort

  2. physics an applied force acting against inertia

Origin of effort

1
C15: from Old French esfort, from esforcier to force, ultimately from Latin fortis strong; see force 1

Derived forms of effort

  • effortful, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for effort

effort

[ ĕfərt ]


  1. Force applied against inertia.

  2. The force needed by a machine in order to accomplish work on a load. Compare load.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with effort

effort

see all out (effort); last-ditch effort.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.