He certainly didn't want many people around, in case his effort failed.

The first efforts failed, as did early ones in most other states.

These efforts failed to bring about any change in the law.

But other efforts have so far failed to bring about any changes.

The effort failed by a vote of 247 to 182.

A similar effort in 2000 failed from lack of interest.

Since then, efforts to find the mother and the child have failed.

Efforts to make the peace between the two men failed.

When those efforts failed, he created his own similar program.

Efforts by the county commission to find a middle ground have failed.