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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈeffortful, adjective

Other Words From

• counter·effort noun
• over·effort noun
• pre·effort noun

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

Wistar Executive Vice President and director of the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, who leads Wistar's HIV research efforts and served as a co-author on the paper.

From Science Daily

Some of the money to fund these efforts could even come from part of the health savings in national budgets.

From Salon

"Now we can co-opt this same strategy to advance our efforts to build synthetic multicellular structures -- and eventually tissues and organs -- for regenerative medicine."

From Science Daily

Beating USC would make Foster’s first season an unqualified success and significantly boost his efforts to bring in the name, image and likeness dollars needed to upgrade the talent on his roster.

From Los Angeles Times

No one would be questioning their efforts if they were searching for their daughter instead of a dog, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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