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effort

EF-urt/ˈɛfɚt/UKEF-uht/ˈɛfət/

Pluralefforts

6 meanings of effort

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  1. 1
    undertakingnouncountable
    An attempt or undertaking aimed at achieving something.

    The rescue effort involved dozens of volunteers and several helicopters.

    Several diplomatic efforts failed before a treaty was finally signed.

    UsageOften followed by to + verb: an effort to help, in an effort to cut costs.

    Similarattempt, endeavor, undertaking, bid, initiative

    Note

    Here effort names the undertaking itself rather than the energy spent: an effort to reach a deal, a rescue effort. Large shared undertakings take the word too, as in the war effort or a relief effort, where it covers everything a group does toward one goal.

  2. 2
    exertionnouncountable or uncountable
    The physical or mental work involved in doing something; exertion.

    Completing the marathon demanded sustained effort over many hours.

    Repairing the old engine took far more effort than he had expected.

    UsageYou make an effort (not incorrect: do an effort) and put effort into something; a task takes a lot of effort.

    Similarexertion

    Note

    Behind the everyday sense sits a Latin image of strength: ex plus fortis, "strong," which reached English through French effort, from Old French esforcier, "to force, exert." An effort is strength pushed outward. Its near-synonym trouble stresses the bother of a task more than the energy spent on it.

  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A finished piece of work, such as a book, an album or a shot in a game, considered as the result of someone's attempt and judged on its quality.

    Critics called the band's latest record a disappointing effort after two brilliant albums.

    The striker's long-range effort hit the crossbar in the final minute.

    UsageUsually with a word that judges it: a good effort, a disappointing effort; in sport, often its range: a long-range effort.

    Similarattempt, offering, work

    Note

    Sports reporting uses it for a shot at goal, usually with its range or its fate (a long-range effort that hit the crossbar). Unlike an attempt or endeavor, this effort is finished and open to judgment.

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    verbraretransitive or intransitive
    To try or work at something, especially to try to obtain or arrange it.

    Our producers will effort an interview with the mayor before the evening broadcast.

    The assignment editor asked two reporters to effort statements from both campaigns before the evening newscast.

    UsageMostly newsroom talk, often in the -ing form: efforting an interview. Elsewhere, try to get or work on is the usual choice.

    Similarstrive, work, labor, try, endeavor

    Oppositeslack, coast, idle

  2. 5
    nouncountable
    A force applied to a body in the same direction as its motion.

    With this block and tackle, an effort of 100 newtons is enough to raise a 400-newton load.

    In a lever system, a small effort can balance a much larger load.

    Similarforce

    Oppositeload

    Note

    Mechanics borrows the word for a force that can be measured. Macquorn Rankine's Manual of Applied Mechanics (1858) speaks of "the two bodies between which the effort acts," which makes it something that passes between objects rather than something a person feels. In this register it is a quantity to calculate. It carries none of the strain or tiredness of the everyday sense.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • In mechanics, effort denotes a physical force acting in the direction of motion. en.wiktionary.org
    • Rankine wrote Manual of Applied Mechanics, first published in 1858. imperial.ac.uk
    • The quoted words are attributed to Rankine's Manual of Applied Mechanics. en.wiktionary.org
  3. 6
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To strengthen, fortify, or stimulate something.
    When old, he lived in London where, being High-minded and Poor, he was exposed to the contempt of disingenuous persons. Yet he efforted his Spirits with a Commemoration of the Days of Old.
    1684, Thomas Fuller, G. S.
    Note

    An obsolete transitive verb that kept the root meaning "strong" close to the surface: to effort something was to strengthen it. Anglorum Speculum (1684), an abridgement of Thomas Fuller's Worthies of England, says a poor old man "efforted his Spirits with a Commemoration of the Days of Old," raising his spirits by recalling the past. Readers now meet it only in older texts. Modern English would say fortified or bolstered.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

    • The obsolete transitive verb meant to strengthen, fortify, or stimulate. en.wiktionary.org
    • The word's etymology includes Latin fortis, meaning strong. en.wiktionary.org
    • Anglorum Speculum was published in 1684. huntington.org
    • Anglorum Speculum presents an abridgement of Worthies of England. quod.lib.umich.edu
    • Thomas Fuller wrote Worthies of England. en.wikisource.org
    • Anglorum Speculum describes a poor old man using the exact quoted words about reviving his spirits through recollection. en.wiktionary.org

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Origin

From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, formed from esforcier ("to force, exert"), which came through Vulgar Latin from Latin ex plus fortis ("strong").

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

  • English effort derives from Middle French effort, from Old French esfort. en.wiktionary.org
  • Old French esfort was formed from esforcier, meaning “to force, exert.” en.wiktionary.org
  • Esforcier derives through Vulgar Latin from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
  • The ultimate Latin elements are ex and fortis, with fortis meaning “strong.” en.wiktionary.org