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Definition of effort noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

effort

noun
 
/ˈefət/
 
/ˈefərt/
Idioms
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  1. [countable] an attempt to do something especially when it is difficult to do
    • The project was a team effort.
    • a joint/collaborative effort
    • a determined/conscious/special effort
    • I didn't really feel like going out, but I am glad I made the effort.
    • effort to do something Please make an effort to be on time.
    • The local clubs are making every effort to interest more young people.
    • We need to make a concerted effort to finish on time.
    • You need to focus your efforts on critical areas first.
    • We decided to concentrate our efforts on the home study market.
    • to coordinate/redouble your efforts
    • I'm glad to hear that many of you support our efforts.
    • in an effort to do something The company has laid off 150 workers in an effort to save money.
    • despite somebody's efforts Despite our best efforts, we didn't manage to win the game.
    • Recognize your staff members for their efforts.
    • I spent hours cleaning the house, but there isn't much to show for all my efforts.
    • with an effort With an effort of will he resisted the temptation.
    Extra Examples
    • They believed their collaborative efforts would be far more effective than the efforts of any individual.
    • He failed in his efforts to find a compromise.
    • Critics said the plan would undermine efforts to address the current crisis.
    • He spearheaded efforts to raise money for the school.
    • I can see you have made a big effort to clean up.
    • She had to make a conscious effort to be polite so early in the morning.
    • I make sporadic efforts to sort out my files.
    • She made a feeble effort to smile, then started crying again.
    • The UN General Secretary flew in in a last-ditch effort to save the talks.
    • The club has changed the rules in an effort to make them fairer.
    • The wound resisted all my efforts to stop it bleeding.
    • I'll make a special effort to finish on time this week.
    • Students, teachers and families got together in a team effort to decorate the school.
    • Governments are pooling their efforts to stem international terrorism.
    • Her efforts earned her a Nobel Prize.
    • The gallery owner applauded the efforts of firefighters to save the exhibits.
    • The police have renewed their efforts to find the murderer.
    • Diplomatic efforts to end the crisis failed.
    • Through their efforts, enough money was raised to buy the equipment.
    • We're targeting our efforts at making our website appealing to younger people.
    • efforts by campaigners to improve working conditions at the plant
    • She redoubled her efforts to get her writing published.
    Topics Successb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • ambitious
    • big
    • enormous
    verb + effort
    • make
    • initiate
    • launch
    effort + verb
    • come to nothing
    • fail
    • fall flat
    preposition
    • in an/​your effort
    • through somebody’s effort
    phrases
    • your best efforts
    • a reward for your efforts
    • make every effort
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable, countable] the physical or mental energy that you need to do something; something that takes a lot of energy
    • You should put more effort into your work.
    • A great deal of time and effort has gone into making this event a success.
    • It's a long climb to the top, but well worth the effort.
    • Getting up this morning was quite an effort (= it was difficult).
    • The task required almost no effort.
    • with (an) effort (British English) With an effort (= with difficulty) she managed to stop herself laughing.
    Extra Examples
    • It takes constant effort to become fluent in a language.
    • It took a whole day of hard effort to knock down the wall.
    • No effort has been spared to make this hotel a welcoming, comfortable place.
    • This can be done quickly and with very little effort.
    • an outfit which enables you to look good with minimal effort
    • They have put a lot of money and effort into their latest album.
    • Without much effort, our membership has made modest, steady growth.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • hard
    • constant
    … of effort
    • amount
    verb + effort
    • demand
    • need
    • require
    effort + verb
    • go into
    preposition
    • with effort
    • without effort
    phrases
    • a great deal of effort
    • time and effort
    See full entry
  3. [countable] (usually after a noun) a particular activity that a group of people organize in order to achieve something
    • the European space effort
    • the United Nations’ peacekeeping effort
    Topics Successb1
  4. [countable] the result of an attempt to do something
    • I'm afraid this essay is a poor effort.
  5. [uncountable] (physics) a force applied by a machine or in a processTopics Physics and chemistryc2
  6. Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French, from Old French esforcier, based on Latin ex- ‘out’ + fortis ‘strong’.
Idioms
bend (all) your efforts/every effort to something
  1. (formal) to put a lot of effort into one particular thing
    • He urged the government to bend every effort to secure the prisoners' release.
See effort in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee effort in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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