What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Effort vs Oblige - What's the difference?

effort | oblige |

As verbs the difference between effort and oblige

is that effort is (uncommon|intransitive) to make an effort while oblige is .

As a noun effort

is the work involved in performing an activity; exertion.

effort

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The work involved in performing an activity; exertion.
  • * , chapter=23
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The slightest effort made the patient cough. He would stand leaning on a stick and holding a hand to his side, and when the paroxysm had passed it left him shaking.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=June 22, author=Press Association, work=The Guardian
  • , title= Manchester United offer Park Ji-sung a new two-year contract , passage=The 30-year-old South Korean, who joined United in 2005, retired from international duty after last season's Asian Cup in an effort to prolong his club}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.}}
  • An endeavour.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03, author=William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter
  • , volume=100, issue=2, page=87, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= The British Longitude Act Reconsidered , passage=But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.}}
  • A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.
  • (Rankine)

    Usage notes

    * Adjectives often used with "effort": conscious, good, poor, etc.

    Synonyms

    *

    Derived terms

    * best efforts * centre of effort * effort distance * effortless * make an effort

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (uncommon) To make an effort.
  • (obsolete) To stimulate.
  • * Fuller
  • He efforted his spirits.

    Statistics

    * ----

    oblige

    English

    Verb

    (oblig)
  • To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.
  • I am obliged to report to the police station every week.
    {{quote-Fanny Hill, part=3 , Tho' he was some time awake before me, yet did he not offer to disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first stirring, which was not till past ten o'clock, I was oblig'd to endure one more trial of his manhood.}}
  • To do someone a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).
  • He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.
  • *
  • To be indebted to someone.
  • I am obliged to you for your recent help.
  • To do a service or favour.
  • The singer obliged with another song.

    Derived terms

    * disoblige

    Usage notes

    "Obliged" has largely replaced "obligate"; the latter being more common in the the 17th through 19th centuries.The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage (1996)

    Anagrams

    *