effort

[ ef-ert ]

/ ˈɛf ərt /

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See synonyms for: effort / efforts on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR effort

1 struggle, striving.

See synonyms for effort on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of effort

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 FROM effort

coun·ter·ef·fort, nouno·ver·ef·fort, nounpre·ef·fort, noun

Words nearby effort

efflorescent, effluence, effluent, effluvium, efflux, effort, effort bargain, effortful, effortless, effraction, effrontery

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use effort in a sentence

That’s a view that most nonreligious Americans reject, which is likely a part of the reason that their support for Biden is so high, despite the campaign’s minimal outreach efforts.
More And More Americans Aren’t Religious. Why Are Democrats Ignoring These Voters?|Daniel Cox|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat|Aaron Blake, JM Rieger|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
This was part of a larger effort by Kroc and former McDonald’s chairman Fred Turner to identify entrepreneurs who were commercially minded and driven to succeed.
Why McDonald’s sets the standard for equitable business models|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
A who’s who of celebrities plans to boycott Instagram tomorrow in an effort to pressure its parent company, Facebook to do a better job of controlling violence, racism, and hate across its services.
Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Leonardo DiCaprio plan one-day Instagram boycott. Here’s why|Danielle Abril|September 15, 2020|Fortune

My Bay Area neighborhood, on the other hand, has benefited from consistent investment in efforts to defend it against the ravages of climate change.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
As part of that effort, Said received weapons training for months, sources told The Daily Beast.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The effort to sterilize his image first began when Epstein hired Los Angeles-based spin doctors Sitrick Co.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The U.S. military just unveiled a new effort to get Iraqis ready to battle ISIS.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Where the U.S. once sought to train several divisions worth, the latest effort is for just 3,000 troops.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said the decline was a result of an effort to decrease gang violence.
America’s 2014 Murder Capital|Brandy Zadrozny|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The remaining one struggled for another half-minute, and flared up in one last, desperate effort.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
He had seen the act committed, he felt sure but had made no effort whatever to stop the thief.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
I shall therefore, in my effort to prove the Bible fallible, quote almost wholly from Christian critics.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
To make the effort of articulation a vital impulse in response to a mental concept,—this is the object sought.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Make a personal appeal to your men and Godley's to make a supreme effort to hold their ground.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for effort

effort

/ (ˈɛfət) /

noun

physical or mental exertion, usually considerable when unqualifiedthe rock was moved with effort

a determined attemptour effort to save him failed

achievement; creationa great literary effort

physics an applied force acting against inertia

Derived forms of effort

effortful, adjective

Word Origin for effort

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

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

[ ĕf′ərt ]

Force applied against inertia.

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with effort

effort

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

effort

OTHER WORDS FOR effort

Origin of effort

synonym study for effort

OTHER WORDS FROM effort

Words nearby effort

Words related to effort

How to use effort in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for effort

Derived forms of effort

Word Origin for effort

Scientific definitions for effort

Other Idioms and Phrases with effort