# effort

/ˈɛfɝt/ (US) · /ˈɛfət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/effort
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical or mental work

noun · CEFR B1

the energy and work you use to do something difficult.

For teachers: 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'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'work'; remind them that 'effort' focuses on the intensity or the try itself.

### 2. an attempt or project

noun · CEFR B1

a particular attempt to do something, especially as part of a group.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. physics/mechanics

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the force used to move something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She put a lot of effort into her final project.
- The team made a collective effort to finish the report before the Friday deadline.
- Despite the significant financial investment, the project failed because the management team lacked the sustained effort required to navigate local regulatory hurdles.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.