effort
exertion of physical or mental power: It will take great effort to achieve victory.
an earnest or strenuous attempt: an effort to keep to the schedule.
something done by exertion or hard work: I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.
an achievement, as in literature or art: The painting is one of his finest efforts.
the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose: the war effort.
Chiefly British.
an organized community drive or achievement.
a fund-raising drive.
Mechanics. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.
Origin of effort
1synonym study For effort
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
But Republican and Democratic parties have made efforts to reverse that trend.
Ultimately, Gow says, the brothers failed in their efforts to recreate the Auroch.
And who can blame them for feeling disenfranchised when they see their efforts dwarfed by the mega donors.
Despite his efforts to live in the present, he seemed haunted by the specter of his father.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTEven in the parts of the movement he does cover, some people and efforts are missing.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality | E.J. Graff | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
You need but will, and it is done; but if you relax your efforts, you will be ruined; for ruin and recovery are both from within.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouThe friars were exceedingly wroth, and combined to defeat the Generalʼs efforts to come to an understanding with the rebels.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanGreenlaw (Charles P.), his efforts in obtaining steam for India, 560.
The machine penetrated everywhere, thrusting aside with its gigantic arm the feeble efforts of handicraft.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockIt was a very dangerous one, too, and sometimes lives were sacrificed in his efforts to capture or to kill this fierce wild beast.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
British Dictionary definitions for effort
/ (ˈɛfət) /
physical or mental exertion, usually considerable when unqualified: the rock was moved with effort
a determined attempt: our effort to save him failed
achievement; creation: a great literary effort
physics an applied force acting against inertia
Origin of effort
1Derived 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
[ ĕf′ərt ]
Force applied against inertia.
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
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.
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