effort
/ˈɛf.ɚt/Physical or mental exertion applied to achieve a goal
Winning the race required a lot of effort.
He had to work very hard to win the competition.
Can refer to both physical and mental work.
A deliberate attempt to accomplish something
His effort to learn a new language impressed everyone.
People were amazed by how hard he worked to study a foreign language.
Often used to describe intentional actions.
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💡Pro Tip
Positive and Negative Connotations
Effort can be praised ('good effort') or criticized ('not enough effort'). Context determines the tone.
⚡Gold Rule
Countable and Uncountable
Effort can be both countable ('many efforts') and uncountable ('a lot of effort').
📖Word Origin
From Middle French 'esfort', from Old French 'esfort' (strength, force), from Latin 'exfortis' (strong, vigorous)
📝Usage Notes
Often used in contexts where persistence or hard work is involved. Can be both positive (praise for effort) or negative (criticism for lack of effort).