effort

[ef-ert]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR effort 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.

Origin of effort

1480–90; < Middle French; Old French esfort, esforz, derivative of esforcier to force (es- ex-¹ + forcier to force)

Related formscoun·ter·ef·fort, nouno·ver·ef·fort, nounpre·ef·fort, noun

Synonyms for effort

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR effort ON THESAURUS.COM

1. struggle, striving. 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for effort

training, attempt, power, intention, industry, creation, exercise, battle, production, struggle, push, force, endeavor, resolution, achievement, essay, shot, energy, strain, go

Examples from the Web for effort

Contemporary Examples of effort

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
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
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
He was then literally slapped around by the high priest, who pulled on his ears in an effort to produce tears.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style
Candida Moss
December 31, 2014
In an effort to gain early attention, he focused his attention on the Iowa precinct caucuses, which had never mattered much.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz
Jeff Greenfield
December 31, 2014

Historical Examples of effort

Making an effort to rise, he seemed surprised at his own weakness.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
The effort to make them "disgorge" is as continual as it is noisy, and, as a rule, futile.
'Tis Sixty Years Since
Charles Francis Adams
The young girl shrank from the effort, but the elder lady was inflexible.
Malbone
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
The principle involved in this effort is that of conservation.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
He felt his own fist tingle as he returned the effort with interest.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand

British Dictionary definitions for effort

effort

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 Formseffortful, 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

Word Origin and History for effort

late 15c., from Middle French effort, noun of action from Old French esforz "force, impetuosity, strength, power," back-formation from esforcier "force out, exert oneself," from Vulgar Latin *exfortiare "to show strength" (source of Italian sforza), from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + Latin fortis "strong" (see fort).