effort

UK: /ˈɛfə^rt/ US: /ˈɛfɚt/ ,(ef′ərt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ef•fort /ˈɛfɚt/   n. 

1. the use of physical or mental power:
   [uncountable] It will take great effort to achieve a victory.
2. [countable] a try;
   an attempt.
3. [countable] something done by hard work.

ef•fort•less, adj. 
ef•fort•less•ly, adv. See -fort-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ef•fort  (ef′ərt), n. 

1. exertion of physical or mental power:
   It will take great effort to achieve victory.
2. an earnest or strenuous attempt:
   an effort to keep to the schedule.
3. something done by exertion or hard work:
   I thought it would be easy, but it was an effort.
4. an achievement, as in literature or art:
   The painting is one of his finest efforts.
5. the amount of exertion expended for a specified purpose:
   the war effort.
6. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.]
   • an organized community drive or achievement.
   • a fund-raising drive.
7. Mechanics the force or energy that is applied to a machine for the accomplishment of useful work.

• Middle French; Old French esfort, esforz, derivative of esforcier to force (es- ex-¹ + forcier to force)
• 1480–90

Synonyms

• 1. struggle, striving.
  Effort, application, endeavor, exertion imply actions directed or force expended toward a definite end.
  Effort is an expenditure of energy to accomplish some objective:
  He made an effort to control himself.
  Application is continuous effort plus careful attention:
  constant application to duties.
  Endeavor means a continued and sustained series of efforts to achieve some, often worthy and difficult, end:
  a constant endeavor to be useful.
  Exertion is the vigorous and often strenuous expenditure of energy, frequently without an end:
  out of breath from exertion.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

effort / ˈɛfət/ noun

1. physical or mental exertion, usually considerable when unqualified
2. a determined attempt
3. achievement; creation

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French esfort, from esforcier to force, ultimately from Latin fortis strong; see force¹