From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisheffortef‧fort /ˈefət $ ˈefərt/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 physical/mental energy [uncountable]WORK HARD the physical or mental energy that is needed to do something Lou lifted the box easily, without using much effort. Frank put a lot of effort into the party. Learning to speak another language takes effort.2 attempt [countable, uncountable]TRY TO DO OR GET something an attempt to do something, especially when this involves a lot of hard work or determination Please make an effort to be polite.somebody’s effort(s) to do something Tom’s efforts to stop smoking haven’t been very successful. Church leaders are prepared to meet the terrorists in an effort to (=in order to try to) find peace.effort at Further efforts at negotiation have broken down.through somebody’s efforts (=because of their efforts) The money was raised largely through the efforts of parents.despite somebody’s efforts Despite all our efforts we lost the game 1–0.3 → be an effort4 particular situation [countable] work that people do to achieve something in a particular situation the fundraising effort the international relief effort Everyone did what they could to support the war effort.5 → good/bad/poor etc effortCOLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsmake an effort (=try)She made an effort to change the subject of the conversation. put effort into (doing) something (=try hard to do something)Let’s try again, only put more effort into it this time.take the effort out of something (=make it easy)An automatic car takes the effort out of driving.something takes effort (also it takes effort to do something) (=you have to try hard)It takes a sustained effort to quit smoking.something requires/involves effort formal (=it takes effort)Trying to get my mother to change her mind requires considerable effort.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + effortsuccessfulTheir efforts were successful, and they won the contract.unsuccessfulEfforts to save the hospital from closure have been unsuccessful.futile (=having no chance of succeeding, and therefore not worth doing)Doctors knew that any effort to save his life would be futile.a big/great effortThe government has made a big effort to tackle the problem of poverty.considerable effort (=a lot of effort)The police put considerable effort into finding his car.a supreme/tremendous effort (=a very big effort)It was only with a supreme effort that Roger controlled his temper.a special effort (=one that you do not normally make)I made a special effort to be nice to the children.a constant effort (=one that never stops)Walking was a constant effort.a sustained effort (=one that you continue making for a long time)It will take a sustained effort over the next 5 years to achieve our objectives.a conscious/deliberate effort (=one that you concentrate on in order to achieve something)He made a conscious effort to become a better person.a determined effort (=showing a lot of determination)She had made a determined effort to lose weight.a desperate effort (=one you make when you are in a very bad situation)The fox made a desperate effort to get away.a concerted effort (=involving a lot of different actions, or a lot of people working together)It will take a concerted effort to change the culture of binge-drinking in the country.a joint/team effort (=involving a group or team of people)We had many fine individual performances, but the win was a real team effort.a collaborative/cooperative effort formal (=with different people or groups working together)This was a collaborative effort involving the three largest energy companies.physical/mental effortHe struggled back from two sets down to win the match, showing great physical and mental effort.a final/last-ditch effort (=a last effort, when you want very much to achieve something)Sam took a deep breath and prepared herself for one final effort.phrasesmake the effort (=do something that requires some effort)I felt too tired to go to a party, but decided to make the effort.make every effort to do something (=try very hard)I made every effort to see their point of view.make no effort to do something (=not try at all)They make no effort to speak the local language.be (well) worth the effort (=used to say that something is worth doing even though it is hard)It’s a difficult place to get to, but it's well worth the effort.an effort of will (=a big effort to do something that you find difficult because of the way you feel)It took a huge effort of will not to cry.with effort formal (=trying very hard)With great effort, he managed to keep quiet.without effort (=easily, without trying hard)Her horse jumped the fence without any effort. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 4: work that people do to achieve something in a particular situationNOUN + efforta relief effortThe UN is organizing the relief effort to the region affected by the earthquake.a fund-raising effortThe party is planning a huge fund-raising effort later this year.the war effortTaxes were raised to support the war effort.
Examples from the Corpus
effort• The workers went on strike after efforts at negotiation with management broke down.• But Caps suggests that if an effort is made, community institutions can still be made to work.• Yet, the lynchings and the surveillance of blacks in an effort to prevent the development of rebellion continued.• The company has announced 500 job losses in an effort to cut costs.• Cleaning up polluted rivers will take considerable time and effort.• I've spent a lot of time and effort getting this far. I'm not giving up now.• Vicki has hardly put in any effort, yet she's expecting the same rewards as everyone else.• But equally important to the Clinton effort was the emphasis on change.• Generally, the construction industry still limits its delivery effort to an eight-hour period, Mondays to Fridays.• All his efforts to convince Lucy failed.• First it needs to boost its efforts to get wind of military-useful technology at an early stage.• The former method takes a bit more effort, but the results are more reliable.• This exercise isn't difficult - it shouldn't require much effort.• Indeed this is so clear that I sometimes wonder why so much effort usually goes into attempting to prove it.• It seems he devotes much time, much effort, to his body.• It seemed like a lot of effort for a very small gain.• I could have told you it would be a waste of effort.• His last piece does require some effort from the listener, but it's well worth it.• After all the effort I put in, they had better be satisfied!• Faster and faster he pulled on the rope, gasping with the effort.• Children are hard work, of course, but worth the effort.• The climb is arduous, but well worth the effort, as the views from the top are spectacular.• He mounted the slope with effort, breathing hard.somebody’s effort(s) to do something• Chances are, you can match any Houston rate if you take the time and effort to shop around your own city.• Devoting maximum diplomatic effort to dilution and delay.• In an effort to boost flagging confidence, Nimslo loaned cameras to the Fleet street city press.• In the Central Valley, however, the effort to protect salmon led to a far different result.• Step 5 Determine the extent of this behaviour; does its frequency or seriousness justify your efforts to try and alter it?• The Supreme Court, once a champion of efforts to mix black and white, has performed a U-turn.• What has emerged so far confirms the pessimism that has settled over the international effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions.relief effort• In a regional disaster such as a flood or earthquake, there was no way to coordinate relief efforts.• Another issue highlighted in the report was the alleged importation of toxic maize as part of a drought relief effort.• This factor, together with the severe damage caused to the roads and power supplies, greatly hampered relief efforts.• A standing committee was set up to co-ordinate the international relief effort.• But the escalating crisis may now force Western leaders to use military air power to protect relief efforts.• The Soviet relief effort is also employing aircraft.• More tremors hit Cairo More earth tremors have hit Cairo impeding the relief effort following the major earthquake.• But sending out supplies is just part of the relief effort.Origin effort (1400-1500) Old French esfort, from esforcier “to force” 