effort */*/*/

effort */*/*/
UK [ˈefə(r)t] / US [ˈefərt] noun
Word forms "effort":
singular effort plural efforts
Metaphor:
When you put a lot of effort into doing something, it is like using a part of your body. Does she have the backbone to stand up to them? Or will she just give in? ♦ You have to put your back into it. ♦ They only succeeded by using their political muscle. ♦ Put a bit more elbow grease into it. ♦ My heart's not really in it. ♦ I had to sweat my guts out to get it done in time. ♦ We must all put our shoulders to the wheel. ♦ Just try to put your best foot forward now. ♦ I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone. ♦ He was the kind of boss who liked to get his hands dirty.
1) [countable/uncountable] an attempt to do something that is difficult or that involves hard work
an effort to do something:

The restructuring was part of an effort to boost company profits.

in an effort to do something:

Detectives are talking to other witnesses in an effort to corroborate her confession.

make an effort to do something:

I've made an effort to drink less tea and coffee.

make little/no effort:

The drivers made no efforts to check their vehicles.

an effort of will/imagination/memory:

She was trembling violently, but with a determined effort of will she stopped.

despite someone's efforts:

The man died despite the doctors' efforts to revive him.

a concerted/joint effort (= made together):

a concerted effort by the nations of the world to protect our environment

•

Collocations:
Adjectives frequently used with effort
▪  big, brave, combined, concerted, determined, feeble, great, individual, joint, last-ditch, massive, solo, sustained, team, vain, valiant, wasted
2) [singular/uncountable] physical or mental energy needed to do something

The aim is to obtain maximum reward for minimum effort.

physical/mental effort:

The sheer physical effort of shopping is a burden to most of us.

take/require effort:

Writing a book requires a lot of time and effort.

put effort into something:

Mary put a lot of effort into this project.

with an effort:

Nathan controlled his temper with an effort.

3) [countable] the activities of people who are working together to achieve a particular aim

international relief efforts

4) [countable] informal something that someone produces or creates, often something of poor quality

His first effort in 1991 was a collection of short stories.

As smiles went it was a poor effort.

5) [countable] mainly journalism an attempt to score a goal in football
6) [singular/uncountable] physics the force used on a machine of any type in order to make it able to move an object
•

make the/an effort (to do something) — mainly spoken to do something even though you do not want to or you find it difficult

I wish you'd make the effort to get on with her.


English dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • effort — [ efɔr ] n. m. • esforz 1080; de efforcer 1 ♦ Activité d un être conscient qui mobilise toutes ses forces pour résister ou vaincre une résistance (extérieure ou intérieure). Effort physique, musculaire. Sentiment de l effort (fondement de la… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • effort — EFFORT. sub. mas. Action faite en s efforçant, en y employant beaucoup de force. Il se dit Des actions et du corps et de l esprit. Grand effort. Faire le dernier effort. Vain effort. Effort inutile. Employer tous ses efforts. Il en est venu à… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • effort — Effort. s. m. verb. Action faite en s efforçant, en y employant beaucoup de force. Il se dit des actions & du corps & de l esprit. Grand effort. dernier effort. vain effort. inutile effort. faire effort. faire un effort. il ne faut pour cela qu… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • effort — UK US /ˈefət/ noun ► [C or U] a serious attempt to do something: an effort to do sth »This is part of an ongoing effort to develop the Asian debt market. »The guidelines require that companies make an effort to engender a culture of ethical… …   Financial and business terms

  • effort — effort, exertion, pains, trouble mean the active use or expenditure of physical or mental power in producing or attempting to produce a desired result. Effort may suggest either a single action or continued activity, but it usually implies… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Effort — Ef fort, n. [F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr. esforcier. See {Efforce}.] 1. An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous endeavor; struggle… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • effort — late 15c., from M.Fr. effort, noun of action from O.Fr. esforz force, impetuosity, strength, power, back formation from esforcier force out, exert oneself, from V.L. *exfortiare to show strength (Cf. It. sforza), from L. ex out (see EX (Cf. ex )) …   Etymology dictionary

  • effort — [ef′ərt] n. [Fr < OFr esforz < esforcier, to make an effort < VL * exfortiare < ex , intens. + * fortiare: see FORCE] 1. the using of energy to get something done; exertion of strength or mental power 2. a try, esp. a hard try;… …   English World dictionary

  • effort — I noun applied energy, arduousness, assiduity, assiduousness, attempt, conatus, contentio, endeavor, essay, exertion, expenditure of energy, hard work, industry, laboriousness, opera, pains, strain, strenuousness, struggle, toil, travail, trial,… …   Law dictionary

  • Effort — Ef fort, v. t. To stimulate. [Obs.] He efforted his spirits. Fuller. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Effort — (fr., spr. Effohr), Anstrengung, Nachdruck, Kraft; daher Efforciren, sich anstrengen …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”