- effort
- [[t]e̱fə(r)t[/t]]
♦efforts1) N-VAR: oft N to-inf If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
He made no effort to hide his disappointment...
Finding a cure requires considerable time and effort...
His efforts to reform and revitalise Italian research have won wide praise...
Despite the efforts of the United Nations, the problem of drug abuse and drug traffic continues to grow...
But a concerted effort has begun to improve the quality of the urban air.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu with N, also a N If you say that someone did something with effort or with an effort, you mean it was difficult for them to do. [WRITTEN]She took a deep breath and sat up slowly and with great effort...
With an effort she contained her irritation.
Syn:Ant:3) N-COUNT: usu supp N An effort is a particular series of activities that is organized by a group of people in order to achieve something....a famine relief effort in Angola.
4) N-SING: a N If you say that something is an effort, you mean that an unusual amount of physical or mental energy is needed to do it.Even carrying the camcorder while hiking in the forest was an effort.
Syn:strain, struggle5) PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR to-inf If you make the effort to do something, you do it, even though you need extra energy to do it or you do not really want to.I don't get lonely now because I make the effort to see people.
6) PHRASE If you do something difficult or painful by an effort of will, you manage to make yourself do it.It was only by a supreme effort of will and courage that he was able to pull himself together.
7) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is worth the effort, you mean that it will justify the energy that you have spent or will spend on it.Fortunately, the chore of leaf sweeping is well worth the effort.
English dictionary. 2008.
