EFFORT

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does effort mean? 

• EFFORT (noun)
  The noun EFFORT has 4 senses:

1. earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
2. use of physical or mental energy; hard work
3. a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
4. a notable achievement

  Familiarity information: EFFORT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EFFORT (noun)

Meaning:

Earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

try; effort; attempt; endeavor; endeavour

Context examples:

made an effort to cover all the reading material / wished him luck in his endeavor / she gave it a good try

Hypernyms ("effort" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "effort"):

seeking (an attempt to acquire or gain something)

shot; stab (informal words for any attempt or effort)

shot (an attempt to score in a game)

nisus; pains; strain; striving (an effortful attempt to attain a goal)

battle; struggle (an energetic attempt to achieve something)

takeover attempt (an attempt to take control of a corporation)

run; test; trial (the act of testing something)

test; trial (the act of undergoing testing)

power play; squeeze; squeeze play (an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power)

mug's game (a futile or unprofitable endeavor)

liberation (the attempt to achieve equal rights or status)

batting ((baseball) the batter's attempt to get on base)

best (the supreme effort one can make)

worst (the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of)

bid; play (an attempt to get something)

crack; fling; go; offer; pass; whirl (a usually brief attempt)

essay (a tentative attempt)

foray (an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence))

contribution; part; share (any one of a number of individual efforts in a common endeavor)

Meaning:

Use of physical or mental energy; hard work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

exertion; elbow grease; effort; travail; sweat

Context examples:

he got an A for effort / they managed only with great exertion

Hypernyms ("effort" is a kind of...):

labor; labour; toil (productive work (especially physical work done for wages))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "effort"):

detrition; friction; rubbing (effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure)

overexertion (excessive exertion; so much exertion that discomfort or injury results)

supererogation (an effort above and beyond the call of duty)

overkill (any effort that seems to go farther than would be necessary to achieve its goal)

application; diligence (a diligent effort)

pull (a sustained effort)

exercise; exercising; physical exercise; physical exertion; workout (the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit)

strain; straining (an intense or violent exertion)

least effort; least resistance (the least effortful way to do something)

difficulty; trouble (an effort that is inconvenient)

struggle (strenuous effort)

Meaning:

A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

crusade; campaign; cause; drive; effort; movement

Context examples:

he supported populist campaigns / they worked in the cause of world peace / the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant / the movement to end slavery / contributed to the war effort

Hypernyms ("effort" is a kind of...):

venture (any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "effort"):

war (a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious)

reform (a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices)

lost cause (a defeated cause or a cause for which defeat is inevitable)

gay lib; gay liberation movement (the movement aimed at liberating homosexuals from legal or social or economic oppression)

feminism; feminist movement; women's lib; women's liberation movement (the movement aimed at equal rights for women)

fund-raising campaign; fund-raising drive; fund-raising effort (a campaign to raise money for some cause)

campaigning; candidacy; candidature; electioneering; political campaign (the campaign of a candidate to be elected)

consumerism (a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers)

charm campaign (a campaign of flattery and friendliness (by a company, politician, etc.) to become more popular and gain support)

anti-war movement (a campaign against entering or continuing a war)

ad blitz; ad campaign; advertising campaign (an organized program of advertisements)

youth crusade; youth movement (political or religious or social reform movement or agitation consisting chiefly of young people)

Meaning:

A notable achievement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

deed; exploit; feat; effort

Context examples:

he performed a great deed / the book was her finest effort

Hypernyms ("effort" is a kind of...):

accomplishment; achievement (the action of accomplishing something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "effort"):

acquiring; getting (the act of acquiring something)

mitsvah; mitzvah ((Judaism) a good deed performed out of religious duty)

actuation; propulsion (the act of propelling)

rally; rallying (the feat of mustering strength for a renewed effort)

recovery; retrieval (the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost))

running away (leaving (without permission) the place you are expected to be)

stunt (a difficult or unusual or dangerous feat; usually done to gain attention)

touch; touching (the act of putting two things together with no space between them)

tour de force (a masterly or brilliant feat)

digging up; disinterment; exhumation (the act of digging something out of the ground (especially a corpse) where it has been buried)

equalisation; equalization; leveling (the act of making equal or uniform)

egress; egression; emergence (the act of coming (or going) out; becoming apparent)

causation; causing (the act of causing something to happen)

delivery; obstetrical delivery (the act of delivering a child)

departure; going; going away; leaving (act of departing)

derring-do (brave and heroic deeds)

discovery; find; uncovering (the act of discovering something)

disposal; disposition (the act or means of getting rid of something)

hit ((baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball))

effectuation; implementation (the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect)