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

“The effort is praiseworthy, but so excessively tardy that it is perfectly useless,” a collective of linguists wrote in the Liberation newspaper on Thursday.

From BBC

An estimated 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in South Africa after the government cut off food and water in an effort to "smoke them out" and arrest them.

From BBC

Police have blocked off entrances and exits in an effort to compel the miners to come out.

From BBC

Gaetz, who led the successful effort to depose former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023, claimed that the investigations were punishment for his defiance.

From Salon

Zuckerman maintains that Tanton was not the mastermind behind the Sierra Club effort.

From Salon

Related Words

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