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View synonyms for

effort

[ ef-ert ]

noun

  1. exertion of physical or mental power:

    It will take great effort to achieve victory.

    Synonyms: ,

  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

/ ˈɛə /

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
“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

effort

  1. Force applied against inertia.
  2. The force needed by a machine in order to accomplish work on a load.
  3. Compare load
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Derived Forms

  • ˈڴڴǰٴڳܱ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • dzܲt·Эǰ noun
  • v·Эǰ noun
  • ·fǰ noun
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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 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of effort1

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

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Or perhaps he should have gathered more accurate information on the injury-prone Williams beforehand, which could have saved the Lakers time and afforded them the luxury of redirecting their efforts elsewhere.

From

But while constructing a trail less than a third of a mile in length might seem a simple undertaking, people who have been engaged in this effort say it has been anything but.

From

Lack of access to such key aspects of care disproportionately affects underserved communities, making Covered California’s effort one of health equity as well.

From

He said if students at Occidental were to lose their legal status, the college would make “all reasonable efforts” to help them retain eligibility for financial aid and housing.

From

HIV response research was one of her first professional focuses when she got her start in 2008, so the effort came naturally, the Amsterdam-based mathematical modeler said.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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