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

Monarez said she was terminated after she pushed back against an effort by her bosses to undermine vaccines; Kennedy said she was fired because she said she was not trustworthy.

From Los Angeles Times

While previous shutdowns have been characterised by late-night talks between the two parties in an effort to get government services running again, there appears to be little of the same spirit of collaboration this time.

From BBC

Yet the ghost of Liz Truss lingers: despite their best efforts to politely disown her, the Conservatives' opponents will probably never lose their appetite for reminding voters of the calamity of her brief premiership.

From BBC

"Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up, tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world," he said.

From BBC

Recent state and federal spending cuts will pull dollars out of an already frayed health system, exacerbating the shortage of care and making its efforts more challenging.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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