If you make an effortto do something, you try very hard to do it.
He made no effort to hide his disappointment.
Finding a cure requires considerable time and effort.
...his efforts to reform Italian research.
Despite the efforts of the United Nations, the problem of drug traffic continuesto grow. [+ of]
But a concerted effort has begun to improve the quality of the urban air.
Synonyms: attempt, try, endeavour, shot [informal] More Synonyms of effort
2. uncountable noun [usu withN, oft aNOUN]
If you say that someone did something witheffort or withan effort, you mean it was difficult for them to do.
[written]
She took a deep breath and sat up slowly and with great effort.
With an effort she contained her irritation.
3. countable noun
An effort is a particular series of activities that is organized by a group of people in order to achieve something.
...a famine relief effort in Angola.
4. singular noun
If you say that something is an effort, you mean that an unusual amount of physical or mental energy is needed to do it.
He's very stooped and it's an effort to lift his head.
5.
See make the effort
6.
See an effort of will
7.
See worth the effort
More Synonyms of effort
effort in British English
(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
Word origin
C15: from Old French esfort, from esforcier to force, ultimately from Latin fortis strong; see force1
effort in American English
(ˈɛfərt)
noun
1.
the using of energy to get something done; exertion of strength or mental power
2.
a try, esp. a hard try; attempt; endeavor
3.
a product or result of working or trying; achievement
SYNONYMY NOTE: effort implies a conscious attempt to achieve a particular end [make some effort to be friendly]; exertion implies an energetic, even violent, use of power, strength, etc., often without referenceto any particular end [she feels faint after any exertion]; endeavor suggests an earnest, sustained attempt to accomplish a particular, usually meritorious,end [a life spent in the endeavor to do good]; pains (see pain, n. 5) suggests a laborious, diligent attempt [to take pains with one's work]
OPPOSITE: ease
Derived forms
effortful (ˈeffortful)
adjective
Word origin
Fr < OFr esforz < esforcier, to make an effort < VL *exfortiare < ex-, intens. + *fortiare: see force
COBUILD Collocations
effort
aid effort
considerable effort
continue efforts
decent effort
determined effort
diplomatic effort
expend effort
extra effort
fine effort
frantic efforts
good effort
hamper efforts
huge effort
joint effort
lobbying effort
maximum effort
peace effort
put effort into
reconstruction effort
redouble efforts
require effort
reward effort
support efforts
undermine efforts
valiant effort
wasted effort
Examples of 'effort' in a sentence
effort
It was a great team effort both on and off the field.
The Sun (2016)
We put in a very good effort and did enough to win the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Cyber criminals are targeting charities in their efforts to con people out of cash.
Computing (2010)
You both have to be prepared to put in some serious effort and make some sacrifices.
The Sun (2016)
The one thing you can control is how much effort you put in.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The relief efforts go beyond the artistic works.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That would save a lot of time and effort.
The Sun (2017)
Yet he has made a concerted effort to reassess.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We should pool more of our efforts in research and innovation to bring solutions to global problems, ” she said.
Computing (2010)
The measures should be brought into force if voluntary efforts from the main parties fail to improve the proportion at the next election, the committee said.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He said it was a great effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They said the war effort forced tough choices to be made.
The Sun (2010)
You will need stamina and energy but your efforts will be rewarded.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You make the effort for something when it is really worth it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
When you think how much time and effort so many people have put into my career.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We forget too easily just how much western effort went into winning that battle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is unfair and the process was a waste of time and effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Most of their efforts are spent attempting to explain the universal or similar features of societies.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
What we need is a concerted effort to invest in better practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It would require a considerable effort of will not to enjoy this series.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Make an effort to join groups and clubs.
The Sun (2012)
Yet no hint of that physical effort appeared in his hugely ebullient interpretations.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He agreed that it had been one of the great defensive efforts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He resigned and nobody made much effort to force him to change his mind.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
Then they have got something to grab hold of and focus all their efforts and energy on.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It takes an effort to comprehend something new.
Higonnet, Anne Berthe Morisot (1990)
It was going to waste for the sake of a relatively small amount of money and effort to save it.
The Sun (2012)
They make an effort for dinner.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The president is thought to fear that a perceived increase in crime could thwart his efforts to reform the criminal justice system.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
About $2 billion has been spent so far on relief efforts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Were there efforts at reform within the Catholic church?
Christianity Today (2000)
The chemical companies now suddenly had the technical expertise, and they had also the means to mount massive research efforts.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
He is well weighted on last summer's win and he returned to form with a good effort here two weeks ago.
The Sun (2013)
Quotations
Effort is only effort when it begins to hurtJosé Ortega y GassetIn Search of Goethe From Within, Letter to a German
Lovely it is, when the winds are churning up the waves on the great sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone elseLucretiusDe Rerum Natura
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing wellLord ChesterfieldLetters to His Son
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy mightBible: Ecclesiastes
In other languages
effort
British English: effort /ˈɛfət/ NOUN
If you make an effort to do something, you try hard to do it.
He made no effort to hide his feelings.
American English: effort
Arabic: جُهْد
Brazilian Portuguese: esforço
Chinese: 努力
Croatian: napor
Czech: úsilí
Danish: bestræbelse
Dutch: inspanning
European Spanish: esfuerzo
Finnish: vaivannäkö
French: effort
German: Anstrengung
Greek: προσπάθεια
Italian: sforzo
Japanese: 努力
Korean: 노력
Norwegian: anstrengelse
Polish: wysiłek
European Portuguese: esforço
Romanian: efort
Russian: усилие
Latin American Spanish: esfuerzo
Swedish: ansträngning
Thai: ความพยายาม
Turkish: çaba
Ukrainian: зусилля
Vietnamese: nỗ lực
All related terms of 'effort'
aid effort
An effort is a particular series of activities that is organized by a group of people in order to achieve something.
fine effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
good effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
huge effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
decent effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
expend effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
extra effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
joint effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
peace effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
reward effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
wasted effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
effort bargain
a bargain in which the reward to an employee is based on the effort that the employee puts in
lobbying effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
maximum effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
require effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
valiant effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
determined effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
diplomatic effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
considerable effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
make the effort
If you make the effort to do something, you do it, even though you need extra energy to do it or you do not really want to.
put effort into
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
reconstruction effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
worth the effort
If you say that something is worth the effort , you mean that it will justify the energy that you have spent or will spend on it.
an effort of will
If you do something difficult or painful by an effort of will , you manage to make yourself do it.
spare no effort to spare no expense
If you spare no effort in doing something, you do it as well as possible , without worrying about the amount of work involved. If you spare no expense in doing it, you do it as well as possible, without trying to save money.
Chinese translation of 'effort'
effort
(ˈɛfət)
n
(u) (= energy) 努力 (nǔlì)
⇒ a waste of effort白费力 (bái fèilì)
(c) (= attempt) 尝(嘗)试(試) (chángshì) (个(個), gè)
⇒ It was a good effort.这是个很好的尝试。 (Zhè shì gè hěn hǎo de chángshì.)
(u/s) (= physical/mental exertion) 费(費)力 (fèilì)
⇒ It was an effort to concentrate.费劲地集中精力。 (fèijìn de jízhōng jīnglì)
to make an effort to do sth努力做某事 (nǔlì zuò mǒushì)
with an effort费(費)力地 (fèilì de)
1 (noun)
Definition
a determined attempt to do something
He made no effort to hide.
Synonyms
attempt
a deliberate attempt to destabilize defence
try
I didn't really expect anything, but it was worth a try.
endeavour
His first endeavours in the field were wedding films.
shot (informal)
He will be given a shot at the world title.
bid
a bid to silence its critics
essay (formal)
My first essay in running a company was a disaster.
go (informal)
It took us two goes to get the colour right.
stab (informal)
Several times tennis stars have had a stab at acting.
2 (noun)
Definition
physical or mental energy needed to do something
A great deal of effort had been put into the planning.
Synonyms
exertion
panting from the exertion of climbing the stairs
work
This needs time and a lot of hard work.
labour
the labour of seeding, planting and harvesting
trouble
You've saved us a lot of trouble by helping.
force
slamming the door behind her with all her force
energy
He was saving his energy for the big race in Belgium.
struggle
a young lad's struggle to support his poverty-stricken family
stress
application
his immense talent and unremitting application
strain
the strain of being responsible for the mortgage
striving
graft
His career has been one of hard graft.
toil
It is only toil which gives meaning to things.
welly (slang)
hard graft
travail (literary)
He did whatever he could to ease their travail.
elbow grease (facetious)
blood, sweat, and tears (informal)
3 (noun)
Definition
achievement or creation
The gallery is showcasing her latest efforts.
Synonyms
achievement
a conference celebrating women's achievements
act
My insurance covers acts of sabotage.
performance
the performance of his duties
product
Try to get the best products at the lowest price.
job
production
creation
The bathroom is entirely my own creation.
feat
an incredible feat of agility
deed
His heroic deeds were celebrated in every corner of the country.
accomplishment
The accomplishments of the past year are quite extraordinary.
attainment
the attainment of independence
Quotations
Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt [José Ortega y Gasset – In Search of Goethe From Within, Letter to a German]Lovely it is, when the winds are churning up the waves on the great sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone else [Lucretius – De Rerum Natura]Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well [Lord Chesterfield – Letters to His Son]Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might [Bible: Ecclesiastes]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accomplishment
Definition
something successfully completed
The accomplishments of the past year are quite extraordinary.