make an effort

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bother v.
endeavor v.
stir v.
take a crack at v.
try v.

VERB

bother

Synonyms

STRONGEST

try worry about

WEAK

be concerned about concern oneself exert oneself fuss over go out of one's way make a fuss about put oneself out take pains

Antonyms

WEAK

aid help ignore neglect please

VERB

endeavor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aspire bid for strive take pains undertake

STRONG

address aim apply assay buck determine dig essay grind hassle hump hustle intend labor offer plug purpose push risk scratch seek strain struggle sweat try venture

WEAK

do one's best drive at go for go for broke hammer away have a crack have a shot at have a swing at make a run at peg away pour it on take on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget

STRONG

conceal hide idle ignore laze neglect overlook pass rest withhold

WEAK

be idle procrastinate put off

VERB

stir

Synonyms

STRONGEST

rouse

STRONG

awake awaken bestir budge exert hasten move wake waken

WEAK

be up and about get a move on get moving look alive mill about shake a leg

Antonyms

STRONG

deaden go to sleep

WEAK

calm discourage laze leave alone rest wait

VERB

take a crack at

Synonyms

WEAK

attempt do one's best drive for give a go give a whirl go after go all out go for have a crack have a go have a rip have a shot have a stab have a whack make a pass at make a stab make an attempt risk shoot for tackle undertake vie for

VERB

try

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attack seek struggle work

STRONG

aim aspire compete contend contest endeavor essay labor propose risk speculate strive tackle undertake venture wrangle

WEAK

bear down chip away at do one's best drive for exert oneself go after go all out go for have a crack have a go have a shot have a stab have a whack knock oneself out lift a finger make a bid make a pass at make an attempt put oneself out shoot for vie for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

idle laze rest surrender

STRONG

abstain agree be idle forget give in give up ignore neglect

WEAK

delight please

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

make an effort

“I always make an effort to smile at the person carrying it, which isn’t a super common thing to do in London,” Davies said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026

"We normally have a fry-up for breakfast but, when you guys are here, we need to make an effort," he jokes.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

Instead, they appear to make an effort to seize it.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2025

Today, many of my family members make an effort to look for vegan-friendly restaurants when we go out to eat and to have plant-based food at home when I visit so I can cook.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024

It looks like he’s trying to make an effort to fake smile, but he just couldn’t get up the energy.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly

make an effort

Example Sentences

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