ef·fort
Pronounced:
/ˈɛfɚt/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural ef·fortsMeaning:
1 : work done by the mind or body : energy used to do something [noncount] ▪ 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/extra effort. ▪ The job will require/take a great deal of time and effort. ▪ a lack of effort ▪ She seems to do everything without effort. [=effortlessly; very easily] [count] ▪ Our success is due to the combined/concerted efforts of many people. ▪ Her efforts were rewarded with a new contract. ▪ He lost the campaign despite the best efforts of his supporters. ◊If you get an A for effort or an E for effort or (Brit) full marks for effort, you are given credit for working hard to do something, even though the result of the work was not successful. ▪ His novel's surprise ending is not really convincing, but we'll give him an A for effort.
2 [count] : a serious attempt to do something ▪ Even though they didn't win, the team made a good/valiant effort. ▪ a determined/desperate effort ▪ a last-ditch effort ▪ Her early efforts at writing a novel were awkward. ▪ The project is a team effort. [=is being done by a group of people] ▪ Despite my best efforts, I never found out who she was. —often followed by to + verb ▪ He made no effort to hide his feelings. [=he showed his feelings openly] ▪ In an effort to avoid further delays, the delivery process has been simplified. ▪ I had to make a conscious/deliberate effort not to laugh. ▪ The school makes every effort [=the school does all that it can] to help new students become adjusted to college life.
3 [count] : something produced by work ▪ This painting was one of my best efforts. ▪ It wasn't bad for a first effort.
4 [singular] : something that is hard to do ▪ I was so tired this morning that is was an effort (for me) to get out of bed.
5 [noncount] : all that is being done to achieve a particular goal ▪ He wanted to contribute in some way to the war effort. [=to the effort to win the war]
2 [count] : a serious attempt to do something ▪ Even though they didn't win, the team made a good/valiant effort. ▪ a determined/desperate effort ▪ a last-ditch effort ▪ Her early efforts at writing a novel were awkward. ▪ The project is a team effort. [=is being done by a group of people] ▪ Despite my best efforts, I never found out who she was. —often followed by to + verb ▪ He made no effort to hide his feelings. [=he showed his feelings openly] ▪ In an effort to avoid further delays, the delivery process has been simplified. ▪ I had to make a conscious/deliberate effort not to laugh. ▪ The school makes every effort [=the school does all that it can] to help new students become adjusted to college life.
3 [count] : something produced by work ▪ This painting was one of my best efforts. ▪ It wasn't bad for a first effort.
4 [singular] : something that is hard to do ▪ I was so tired this morning that is was an effort (for me) to get out of bed.
5 [noncount] : all that is being done to achieve a particular goal ▪ He wanted to contribute in some way to the war effort. [=to the effort to win the war]