effort

ef·fort

noun \ˈe-fərt, -ˌfȯrt\

Definition of EFFORT

1

: conscious exertion of power : hard work <a job requiring time and effort>

2

: a serious attempt : try <making an effort to reduce costs>

3

: something produced by exertion or trying <the novel was her most ambitious effort>

4

: effective force as distinguished from the possible resistance called into action by such a force

5

: the total work done to achieve a particular end <the war effort>

Examples of EFFORT

1. He put a lot of effort into finishing the project on time.
2. It wasn't easy, but it was worth the effort.
3. We need to expend more effort.
4. The job will require a great deal of time and effort.
5. Our success is due to the combined efforts of many people.
6. Her efforts were rewarded with a new contract.
7. He lost the campaign despite the best efforts of his supporters.
8. Even though they didn't win, the team made a good effort.
9. Her early efforts at writing a novel were awkward.
10. Despite my best efforts, I never found out who she was.

Origin of EFFORT

Middle French, from Old French esforz, esfort, from esforcier to force, from ex- + forcier to force

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EFFORT

Synonyms

elbow grease, exertion, expenditure, labor, pains, sweat, trouble, while, work

Related Words

drudgery, grind, slog, strain, toil, travail; dint, energy; force, might, muscle, power, puissance; attempt, endeavor, essay, fling, go, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whack

Near Antonyms

adroitness, ease, facility, fluency, smoothness; dormancy, idleness, inaction, inactivity, indolence, inertia, languor, laziness, quiescence

Rhymes with EFFORT

abort, airport, amort, aport, assort, athwart, backcourt, bellwort, birthwort, bistort, blood sport, Bridgeport, carport, cavort, cohort, colewort, comport, consort, contort, crosscourt, deport, disport, distort, downcourt, escort, exhort, export, extort, fall short, figwort, forecourt, for short, free port, frontcourt, glasswort, Gosport, Gulfport, half-court, homeport, home port, in short, jetport, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, Newport, outport, passport, presort, purport, ragwort, report, re-sort, resort, retort, sandwort, seaport, sell short, Shreveport, spaceport, spearwort, spoilsport, Stockport, support, toothwort, transport