| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | aim | direct effort toward |
| 2. | angle for | try subtly to get |
| 3. | angle toward | direct effort toward |
| 4. | apply effort | put forth effort |
| 5. | apply oneself | work diligently at something |
| 6. | aspire | seek strongly to attain |
| 7. | attempt | try to do |
| 8. | battle | struggle hard against obstacles |
| 9. | be at pains | take great care and effort |
| 10. | bend over backward | try very hard to help |
| 11. | bestir oneself | rouse oneself to act |
| 12. | break one’s back | work extremely hard |
| 13. | buckle down | apply serious effort |
| 14. | bust a gut | try extremely hard |
| 15. | carry on | continue effort despite obstacles |
| 16. | chase | pursue eagerly |
| 17. | chip away | make slow steady progress |
| 18. | claw one’s way | advance with great struggle |
| 19. | commit oneself | pledge full effort |
| 20. | contend | strive in opposition |
| 21. | court | seek to gain |
| 22. | dedicate oneself | give oneself fully |
| 23. | devote oneself | commit oneself fully |
| 24. | dig in | commit firmly to effort |
| 25. | do all one can | make every possible effort |
| 26. | do one’s best | make the strongest effort |
| 27. | drive oneself | push oneself hard |
| 28. | drive toward | move effort toward |
| 29. | drudge | work hard at dull tasks |
| 30. | endeavor | try hard to achieve |
| 31. | essay | attempt something |
| 32. | exert oneself | make a strong effort |
| 33. | expend effort | use effort |
| 34. | fight | struggle hard for something |
| 35. | follow through | carry effort to completion |
| 36. | forge ahead | move forward with effort |
| 37. | give 110% | give more than full effort |
| 38. | give it one’s all | use all one’s effort |
| 39. | give one’s best shot | make one’s strongest attempt |
| 40. | go after | try to get |
| 41. | go all out | make maximum effort |
| 42. | go for | try to get |
| 43. | go full tilt | proceed with maximum effort |
| 44. | go the extra mile | make extra effort |
| 45. | go to work on | begin working hard on |
| 46. | grapple | struggle to deal with |
| 47. | grind | work relentlessly toward something |
| 48. | hammer away | work persistently and forcefully |
| 49. | have a go | make an attempt |
| 50. | hustle | work energetically toward |
| 51. | keep at it | continue trying persistently |
| 52. | keep plugging away | continue working hard |
| 53. | keep pushing | continue trying hard |
| 54. | keep striving | continue trying hard |
| 55. | knuckle down | start working seriously |
| 56. | labor | work hard toward something |
| 57. | leave no stone unturned | try every possible way |
| 58. | make a bid | attempt to achieve |
| 59. | make a play for | try to obtain |
| 60. | make a push | make a strong effort |
| 61. | make an effort | try to do something |
| 62. | make every effort | try as hard as possible |
| 63. | moil | work hard and continuously |
| 64. | move heaven and earth | do everything possible |
| 65. | muscle through | force progress through effort |
| 66. | persevere | continue despite difficulty |
| 67. | persist | keep trying steadily |
| 68. | plug away | work steadily and hard |
| 69. | power through | continue despite hardship |
| 70. | press ahead | continue forward with effort |
| 71. | press on | continue with effort |
| 72. | pursue | work toward achieving |
| 73. | put forth effort | make an active effort |
| 74. | reach after | try hard to attain |
| 75. | reach for | try to attain |
| 76. | reach toward | extend effort toward |
| 77. | redouble one’s efforts | increase effort greatly |
| 78. | run after | pursue in hopes of getting |
| 79. | scramble | strive urgently or awkwardly |
| 80. | seek | try to obtain |
| 81. | set one’s sights on | aim firmly at |
| 82. | shoot for | aim to achieve |
| 83. | slog | work hard and steadily |
| 84. | soldier on | continue bravely despite difficulty |
| 85. | stick with it | continue despite difficulty |
| 86. | struggle | make a hard effort |
| 87. | tackle | set about forcefully |
| 88. | take on | undertake with effort |
| 89. | take pains | make careful effort |
| 90. | tax oneself | push one’s limits |
| 91. | throw oneself into | engage with full effort |
| 92. | toil | work very hard |
| 93. | try | make an effort |
| 94. | undertake | take on with effort |
| 95. | venture | dare to try |
| 96. | vie | compete eagerly for something |
| 97. | woo | seek to win |
| 98. | work | put in effort |
| 99. | wrestle | struggle hard with |
| 100. | yearn for | desire strongly and seek |
