effort
pronunciation
How to pronounce effort in British English:
UK [ˈefət]
How to pronounce effort in American English:
US [ˈefərt]
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- Noun:
- earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
- use of physical or mental energy; hard work
- a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
- a notable achievement
Word Origin
- effort
- effort: [15] Etymologically, effort is the ‘putting out’ or ‘showing’ of ‘force’. It comes ultimately from Vulgar Latin *exfortiāre, a compound verb formed from the prefix ex- ‘out’ and the adjective fortis ‘strong’. This passed into Old French as esforcier ‘force, exert’, from which was derived the noun esforz. English borrowed it in its later form effort.=> force
- effort (n.)
- late 15c., "laborious attempt, strenuous exertion," from Middle French effort, from Old French esforz "force, impetuosity, strength, power," verbal noun from esforcier "force out, exert oneself," from Vulgar Latin *exfortiare "to show strength" (source of Italian sforza), from Latin ex- "out" (see ex-) + Latin fortis "strong" (see fort). Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt. [Ortega y Gasset, 1949] Related: Efforts "voluntary exertion," also "result of exertion."
Example
- 1. The effort is paying off .
- 2. The effort paid off quickly .
- 3. So why make an effort ?
- 4. It was a team effort .
- 5. That effort begins at home .