What does effort mean?
Effort is a noun describing the physical or mental energy a person expends in order to accomplish something, as well as any deliberate attempt that requires such energy. It can refer to a specific undertaking — 'an effort to save the company' — or to the strain involved in an action, as in 'the effort left her exhausted'. The word carries broadly positive connotations, since making an effort signals determination, sincerity, and willingness to try, even when success is not guaranteed; it can also be used with gentle irony for a modest result, as in 'a decent first effort'. Common pairings include 'make an effort', 'spare no effort', and 'concerted effort', which appear frequently in both everyday speech and formal writing. Derived from the same Latin root as words like 'fortify', effort literally embodies strength, making it one of the most useful and versatile nouns for describing human striving.
nounA vigorous or determined attempt to achieve something, typically involving physical or mental exertion. The exertion of energy toward accomplishing a goal.
- A determined or vigorous attempt to achieve something: 'an effort to reduce costs'.
- The physical or mental energy expended in doing something: 'the effort of climbing left him breathless'.
- A result achieved through such exertion, sometimes implying modest quality: 'her first effort at painting was surprisingly good'.
"She made a genuine effort to finish the marathon despite the injury."
"It took considerable effort to lift the heavy crate onto the truck."
"The committee's latest effort to reform the policy was met with cautious optimism."
The plural is standard and common, especially when referring to multiple attempts or collective exertions.
"Their combined efforts finally paid off."
The word 'effort' comes straight from Latin fortis, 'strong' — so every time you say you're making an effort, you're literally declaring yourself strong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of effort
Effort entered English in the early 17th century, borrowed from French effort, which derives from Late Latin exfortiare, meaning 'to show strength'. The underlying root is Latin fortis, meaning 'strong', which also gives English words such as 'fortify', 'comfort', and 'force'. Its earliest uses emphasized force or strength applied to an action, before settling into its modern sense of sustained exertion toward a goal.
Related word forms
How effort is actually used
Effort is a common, neutral-register noun used in both formal and informal contexts. It is typically uncountable when referring to general exertion ('it requires effort') and countable when referring to a specific attempt ('a heroic effort'). In British English, phrases like 'in an effort to' are very common in formal writing.
Easily confused with effort
'Effort' is a noun meaning strenuous attempt; 'afford' is a verb meaning to have enough resources to do something.