effort 
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ef·fort (ef′ərt)
noun
- the using of energy to get something done; exertion of strength or mental power
- a try, esp. a hard try; attempt; endeavor
- a product or result of working or trying; achievement
Etymology: Fr < OFr esforz < esforcier, to make an effort < VL *exfortiare < ex-, intens. + *fortiare: see force
Related Forms:
- effortful ef′·fort·ful adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
effort
n.
The act of striving
exertion, endeavor, industry, labor, pains, trouble, force, toil, work, application, energy, travail, struggle, striving, attempting, stress, pull, stretch, push, strain, tension, tug, sweat, sweat of one's brow, toil and trouble, elbow grease*. Antonyms
ease, carelessness*, sloth. * An instance of effort, sense 1
attempt, try, bid, endeavor, enterprise, undertaking, struggle, battle, trial, spurt, essay, venture, aim, purpose, resolution, exercise, discipline, drill, training, crack*, stab*, shot*, go*, whirl*, the old college try*.
effort implies a conscious attempt to achieve a particular end make some effort to be friendly; exertion implies an energetic, vigorous use of power, strength, etc., often without reference to 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 suggests a laborious, diligent attempt to take pains with one's work
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preposition: towards
- disarmament: Asserts that efforts toward disarmament must be taken both regionally and globally and welcomes initiatives already taken.
Converse of object
- make: We have made every effort to retain many of the original features.
Adjective modifier
- concerted: It will take a concerted effort to undo the damage done in the last eight years.
Preposition: on
- behalf: Public sector staff welcome such recognition of their efforts on behalf of customers.
Noun used with modifier
- fundraising: Auction donations are an everyday way to raise money, complementing your current fundraising efforts.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Of these two literatures [French and German], as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now many years, has beena critical effort; the endeavours, in all branches of knowledgeötheology, philosophy, history, art, scienceötoseethe object as initself it really is.
Le mal se fait sans effort, naturellement, par fatalite¤ ; le bien est toujours le produit d'un art. Evil is done without effort, naturally, it's destiny; good is always a product of art.
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies, It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes; Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth, Had kept a Strict Regard forTruth, Attempted to Believe Matilda: The effort very nearly killed her.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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MLA Style
"effort." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/effort>
APA Style
effort. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/effort
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