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effort

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɛfɝt// UK //ˈɛfət// ef·fort Archaic General-service

n. the physical or mental energy you use to do something. It is the work you put in to reach a goal, especially when it is not easy.

n. the physical or mental exertion required to achieve a purpose; a vigorous or determined attempt.


SIMPLE

She put a lot of effort into her final project.

CONTEXTUAL

The team made a collective effort to finish the report before the Friday deadline.

COMPLEX

Despite the significant financial investment, the project failed because the management team lacked the sustained effort required to navigate local regulatory hurdles.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, deverbal of esforcier (“to force, exert”), from Vulgar Latin *exfortiō, from Latin ex + fortis (“strong”). Compare typologically Bulgarian усилие (usilie), Czech úsilí, Polish wysiłek, Russian уси́лие (usílije) (< Proto-Slavic *sila).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general use of energy; countable when referring to a specific attempt or achievement.

Pitfall

He did a great effortHe made a great effortEffort collocations with the verb 'make', not 'do'.

Idioms2 entries

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