Word
effort
Phoneticsef·fort, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛfɝt/
UK/ˈɛfət/
Definitions
01physical or mental work
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the energy and work you use to do something difficult.
n. the physical or mental exertion required to perform a task or overcome an obstacle.
“It took a lot of effort to climb the steep hill with a heavy backpack.”
“The project required a sustained mental effort from the entire team to meet the rigorous safety standards before the deadline.”
Usage
Often used with the verb 'make' or 'put in'.
Pitfall
He did a lot of effort to pass.
He made a lot of effort to pass.
In English, you 'make' an effort, you do not 'do' an effort.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'work'; remind them that 'effort' focuses on the intensity or the try itself.
Antonyms
02an attempt or project
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a particular attempt to do something, especially as part of a group.
n. a conscious endeavor or a specific instance of trying to achieve a goal.
“The local school led the effort to clean up the neighborhood park.”
“Despite a coordinated effort by the rescue services, the rising floodwaters made reaching the stranded hikers nearly impossible.”
Usage
Often followed by 'to' + infinitive.
Synonyms
03physics/mechanics
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the force used to move something.
n. the force applied to a machine or body to produce a desired motion or result.
“The lever reduces the amount of effort needed to lift the heavy rock.”
“In mechanical systems, the ratio of the output force to the applied effort determines the overall efficiency of the machine.”
Usage
Used as a countable noun in technical contexts.
Teaching tip
This is a specialized sense; general learners should focus on the 'exertion' meaning first.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “effort” in context.
Verb
01. expend effort
“You shouldn't expend too much effort on tasks that aren't important.”
verb + noun
02. require effort
“Learning a new language will always require effort and patience.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. collective effort
“Cleaning up the local park was a collective effort by the whole community.”
adj + noun
04. concerted effort
“We need to make a concerted effort to finish the project by Friday.”
adj + noun
05. considerable effort
“It took considerable effort to move the heavy piano across the room.”
adj + noun
06. current effort
“Our current effort is focused on improving customer satisfaction.”
adj + noun
07. future effort
“We will learn from our mistakes to improve any future effort.”
adj + noun
08. increased effort
“The team showed increased effort in the second half of the game.”
adj + noun
09. international effort
“The rescue mission was a massive international effort involving many countries.”
adj + noun
10. successful effort
“Thanks to a successful effort by the doctors, the patient recovered quickly.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“To lose our taste for effort would not just risk an intellectual slide backwards.” “Humans, as a species, often think of ourselves as intrinsically lazy, even if scientists prefer terms like “effort averse”.” Etymology
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).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
02. spare no effort
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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