effortnoun
uk/ˈef.ət/us/ˈef.ɚt/B1 [ C or U ] physical or mental activity needed to achieve something:
[ + to infinitive ] If we could all make an effort to keep this office tidier it would help.
You can't expect to have any friends if you don't make the effort with people.
In their efforts to reduce crime the government expanded the police force.
He's jogging around the park every morning in an effort to get fit.
It takes a long time to prepare the dish but the results are so good that it's worth the effort.
[ C ] the result of an attempt to produce something, especially when its quality is low or uncertain:
Do you want to have a look at his exam paper? It's a fairly poor effort.
be an effort
C2 to be difficult, tiring, or boring to do:
I'm exhausted all the time, and everything is a real effort.
More examples
- A considerable amount of time and effort has gone into this exhibition.
- Everyone ought to make the effort to vote.
- It was a real team effort - everyone contributed something to the success of the project.
- He's obviously making a special effort to be nice to me at the moment.
- He hauled himself over the wall, grunting with the effort.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Effort and expending energy
- apply
- assiduous
- be running on empty idiom
- bust a gut idiom
- concentrated
- conscientious
- fight
- jump
- mind
- overcompensate
- pains
- painstaking
- painstakingly
- perseverance
- shot
- slugger
- strenuous
- thirsty work
- trial and error
- work up sth
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Trying and making an effort