effort

play

noun ef·fort \ 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

See effort defined for English-language learners

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Examples of effort in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of effort from the Web

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will kick off his lobbying effort for a tax overhaul at an event in a Midwestern location, with a manufacturing backdrop and some economic tough talk.

— josh boak, The Seattle Times, "Trump to promote ‘vision’ for job creation via tax overhaul," 30 Aug. 2017
In Afghanistan, that would mean the Taliban converting from a guerrilla to a conventional force in an effort to take and hold big cities but would thus risk presenting a conventional military target that could be defeated in open battle.

— chicagotribune.com, "There is no war in Afghanistan," 30 Aug. 2017
The request, published Monday via Twitter, has spurred a slew of donations toward the relief effort.

— kyle williams, The Courier-Journal, "New Albany hoops joins in Hurricane Harvey relief effort," 30 Aug. 2017
Since Katrina, government agencies and animal welfare groups have improved coordination efforts to better organize disaster response.

— meredith colias, Post-Tribune, "Northwest Indiana rescue shelters to send volunteers, supplies for pets affected by Harvey," 30 Aug. 2017
The airport is finally easing ride-sharing regulations in an effort reduce traffic Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is now allowing Lyft and Uber drivers to drop off and pick up passengers on the same trip.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "LAX Just Made It Easier to Catch a Lyft/Uber from the Airport," 30 Aug. 2017
Policymakers generally agree on what immediate efforts to stabilize the market might include.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "5 Outside-The-Box Ideas For Fixing The Individual Insurance Market," 30 Aug. 2017
Even as Trump was running for president in 2015, the Trump Organization was continuing a years-long effort to build a tower in Moscow.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "Trump's Business Dealings Come Back to Haunt Him," 29 Aug. 2017
With their own people, the Indian enforcers confined their efforts to verbal harassment.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'effort.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.