effort

noun

ˈe-fərt How to pronounce effort (audio)
Definition of effortnext
as in work
the active use of energy in producing a result the finished parade float was well worth the effort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of effort Beyond criminal matters, the office is involved in other efforts. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 As fraud losses mount and criminals use AI to scale their operations, Nasdaq Chair and CEO Adena Friedman is calling for a national strategy to coordinate efforts across the financial system and beyond. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Calgary Flames goalie Devin Cooley went viral on Sunday, less for his stellar effort in an upset win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes than for his interview moments after the game. — Jesse Granger, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026 The Dream never trailed the Valkyries, thanks to big efforts up and down the lineup. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for effort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effort
  1. work
  2. exertion
  3. expenditure
  4. pains
  5. sweat
Noun
  • The announcement did not specify when testing would begin or disclose results from previous development work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Every order completed by a robot represents work that potentially could have gone to a human courier.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • During exertion tests in hot environments, co-founder Roland Washington says people wearing the device have been able to maintain core temperatures of up to 2°F lower than those without, which can make all the difference.
    — Hannah Singleton, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines physically demanding jobs as those that require certain levels and durations of physical exertion, such as climbing, heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, standing or walking.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of exertion
Noun
  • According to the district’s chief business officer Gerardo Castillo, Sac City Unified’s initial report included only its 2025-26 expenditures and left out spending from 2024-25.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • However, skeptics are getting more vocal in their concerns that returns on AI investment won't justify the capital expenditures.
    — Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of expenditure
Noun
  • The couple took pains to preserve historical details like the house's original wooden shutters.
    — Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Nearly every single recipe from the Fizz’s golden age takes pains to specify that it should be made very cold, served without ice, and consumed immediately after delivery, an instruction that may seem pedantic but is nonetheless ubiquitous.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of pains
Noun
  • With Angel playing games, a wig probably would last maybe two or three days, because of sweat, oils and things like that, which doesn’t really work well with the glue.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Betr is giving you a chance to get in on those games with promo code FOXNEWS, giving you $200 in bonus bets and four sweat-free picks to use today.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweat

Browse Nearby Words

effluvium
effort
effortful
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Effort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effort. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All