effort

[ef-ert]

noun

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

/ 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

1. Force applied against inertia.

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

3. Compare load

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of effort¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of effort¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

An MoD source said the efforts were part of "showing the UK is playing its part in setting the framework on what comes next".

Read more on BBC

It would make more sense for retirees to expend their lobbying efforts to urge Congress to fix Social Security’s deficit.

Read more on MarketWatch

“One of the things that I do in this recipe is rehydrate milk powder. That sort of simulates khoa without all the effort, which I feel makes a huge difference,” Selvaraju adds.

Read more on Salon

But they’re no substitute for the patient, continuing effort needed to translate these sentiments into votes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“On the other hand, biology is complicated and it’s hard, and so I think we just have to also be realistic. But look, I would love their effort to be wildly successful.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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