View synonyms for effort

effort

[ ef-ert ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

exertion of physical or mental power:
It will take great effort to achieve victory.
Synonyms: striving, struggle
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.
1. an organized community drive or achievement.
2. a fund-raising drive.
Mechanics. the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.

effort

/ ˈɛfət /

noun

physical or mental exertion, usually considerable when unqualified
the rock was moved with effort
a determined attempt
our effort to save him failed
achievement; creation
a great literary effort
physics an applied force acting against inertia

effort

/ ĕf′ərt /

Force applied against inertia.
The force needed by a machine in order to accomplish work on a load.
Compare load

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Derived Forms

ˈeffortful, adjective

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Other Words From

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

Those efforts appealed to the nostalgia of millennials and Gen X moviegoers, many of whom now have children of their own, Robbins said.

From Los Angeles Times

Once a champion of climate change activism, Musk now represents President Trump’s agenda, including efforts to downsize the federal government and rollback environmental protections.

From Los Angeles Times

Already, Democrats are preparing to use his vote in an effort to unseat the longtime congressman.

From Los Angeles Times

British forces are deployed to Estonia and Poland under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's efforts to counter Russian aggression in the Baltic states.

From BBC

Matt said he was grateful for the “heroic efforts” of the Sheriff’s Department, without which there would have been no hope of justice for Jax.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

efflux effort bargain

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