Etimology
From Middle French effort, from Old French esfort, deverbal of esforcier (“to force, exert”), from Vulgar Latin *exfortiō, from Latin ex + fortis (“strong”).
noun
effort (plural efforts)
The work involved in performing an activity; exertion.
An endeavor.
A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.
Examples
It took a lot of effort to find a decent-sized, fully-furnished apartment within walking distance of the office. He made a conscious effort to not appear affected by the stories in the paper.
The slightest effort made the patient cough. He would stand leaning on a stick and holding a hand to his side, and when the paroxysm had passed it left him shaking.
The 30-year-old South Korean, who joined United in 2005, retired from international duty after last season's Asian Cup in an effort to prolong his club
Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.
Although he didn't win any medals, Johnson's effort at the Olympics won over many fans.
But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.
the two bodies between which the effort acts
Related words
synonyms
struggle
verb
effort (third-person singular simple present efforts, present participle efforting, simple past and past participle efforted)
(uncommon, intransitive) To make an effort.
(obsolete, transitive) To strengthen, fortify or stimulate
Examples
When old, he lived in London where, being High-minded and Poor, he was exposed to the contempt of disingenuous persons. Yet he efforted his Spirits with a Commemoration of the Days of Old.