effort

American  

[ef-ert] / ˈɛf ərt /

noun

• efforts
  plural

1. exertion of physical or mental power.

   It will take great effort to achieve victory.

   Synonyms:

   striving, struggle

2. an earnest or strenuous attempt.

   an effort to keep to the schedule.

3. something done by exertion or hard work.

   I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.

4. an achievement, as in literature or art.

   The painting is one of his finest efforts.

5. the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose.

   the war effort.

6. Chiefly British.

   1. an organized community drive or achievement.

   2. a fund-raising drive.

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

---

effort British  

/ 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

3. achievement; creation

   a great literary effort

4. physics an applied force acting against inertia

---

effort Scientific  

/ ĕf′ərt /

1. Force applied against inertia.

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

3. Compare load

---

effort Idioms  

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

---

Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• countereffort
  noun
• overeffort
  noun
• preeffort
  noun
• effortful
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• efforts
  plural

Etymology

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 )

Explanation

Effort has to do with how much work you're putting into something. A great achievement can also be considered a great effort. Effort has to do with how hard you're trying. If something is easy, it doesn't take much effort. If it's hard, it takes a lot of effort. Effort is about trying to get something done, even if it doesn't always work out. In sports, coaches don't like losing, but they really hate it when the players aren't giving much effort. There are also large scale, collective efforts, like the effort to cure cancer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

effort efforts

The union marks the biggest U.S. effort yet to organize a workforce that numbers in the millions nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

For PPPL, this work is part of a broader effort to address the scientific and technological challenges that must be overcome before commercial fusion power becomes possible, including the development of future fusion pilot plants.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

But what Fred and his Polish compatriots were doing, both before the war and during it, was pivotal in the Allied war effort.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

In September, the board proposed a $2.45 billion Gaza recovery plan at a meeting of its members and stakeholders, in an effort meant to span over six months.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

I ask, aware not for the first time of the effort that Theo has put into helping me this week.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Luna has pointed to changes that have already been made as efforts to improve conditions, including deploying body-worn cameras at the Inmate Reception Center, Men’s Central Jail and Twin Towers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

The uncertainty adds to the challenges facing Saudi efforts that were already hit hard by the war with Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

The grace period could be adjusted depending on the "success or failure" of those efforts, the department added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

In a statement announcing the award, the Nobel Committee praised Pillay's "efforts to promote peace and international law".

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

All my efforts to prepare for Teeth’s news of my family have gotten me a mere snout’s length out of the cave’s mouth.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• achievement
• attempt
• battle
• creation
• endeavor
• exercise
• force
• industry
• intention
• power
• production
• push
• resolution
• struggle
• training