affect
1to act on; produce an effect or change in: Cold weather affected the crops.
to impress the mind or move the feelings of: The music affected him deeply.
(of pain, disease, etc.) to attack or lay hold of.
Psychology. feeling or emotion.
Psychiatry. an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia.
Obsolete. affection; passion; sensation; inclination; inward disposition or feeling.
Origin of affect
1confusables note For affect
Other words for affect
Other words from affect
- af·fect·a·ble, adjective
- af·fect·a·bil·i·ty, noun
Words that may be confused with affect
- affect , effect (see confusables note at the current entry)
Words Nearby affect
Other definitions for affect (2 of 2)
to give the appearance of; pretend or feign: to affect knowledge of the situation.
to assume artificially, pretentiously, or for effect: to affect a Southern accent.
to use, wear, or adopt by preference; choose; prefer: the peculiar costume he affected.
to assume the character or attitude of: to affect the freethinker.
(of things) to tend toward habitually or naturally: a substance that affects colloidal form.
(of animals and plants) to occupy or inhabit; live in or on: Lions affect Africa. Moss affects the northern slopes.
Archaic.
to have affection for; fancy.
to aim at; aspire to.
Obsolete. to incline, tend, or favor (usually followed by to): He affects to the old ways.
Origin of affect
2synonym study For affect
confusables note For affect
Other words from affect
- af·fect·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use affect in a sentence
Defects on this chromosome are more likely to affect men, who have only one copy, while women have two.
Covid-19 scientists flag key immune function as a turning point in life threatening cases | kdunn6 | September 25, 2020 | FortuneWith this information we can continue to develop powerful new models with better accuracy for determining how different habitat factors, such as the number of milkweed stems or nectaring flowers on a landscape scale, affect the monarch population.
Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them. | By D. André Green II/The Conversation | September 23, 2020 | Popular-ScienceWe are part of an international study to understand how women who are expecting to or have given birth are affected by stress related to the pandemic.
Pregnancy During A Pandemic: The Stress Of COVID-19 On Pregnant Women And New Mothers Is Showing | LGBTQ-Editor | September 23, 2020 | No Straight NewsFor example, it recently implemented a clothing closet, where people could donate items to assist families affected by the pandemic.
How Outdoor Companies Can Back Up Their DEI Pledges | Kai Lightner | September 23, 2020 | Outside OnlineIf it’s not affecting me physically or emotionally, I can’t get angry and I won’t be scared.
Climate action: Fear hasn’t motivated people, so let’s get them excited | matthewheimer | September 22, 2020 | Fortune
The vaccine is delivered through a “carrier virus” that causes a common cold in chimpanzees but does not affect humans.
At this point in his life, Denton has enough filthy lucre in his bank account to affect a certain lack of interest in the stuff.
The Gospel According to Nick Denton—What Next For The Gawker Founder? | Lloyd Grove | December 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIf they are treating black people differently, then how can that not affect the president?
It’s Not Just the Cops—Racism Is a Problem for the Secret Service, Too | Bill Conroy | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe tried to become involved with committees that affect us and policing before Ferguson.
SWAT Lobby Shoots to Kill Police Reform After Ferguson | Tim Mak | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHer personal feelings about religion do not affect how she behaves legally, politically, or socially.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism | Regina Lizik | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt did not in any way affect prices or wages, which were rendered neither greater nor less thereby.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockHe did not affect to conceal his anger; and yet, strange to say, it was not visible to Mr Bellamy.
All the parts are made of metal, so that no change in the weather can affect their relative positions.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerAs all parts of this apparatus are of metal changes in humidity or temperature do not affect its regulation.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing MillerAt such a moment neither party would affect to forget the Bruce's royal pretensions.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
British Dictionary definitions for affect (1 of 2)
to act upon or influence, esp in an adverse way: damp affected the sparking plugs
to move or disturb emotionally or mentally: her death affected him greatly
(of pain, disease, etc) to attack
Origin of affect
1British Dictionary definitions for affect (2 of 2)
/ (əˈfɛkt) /
to put on an appearance or show of; make a pretence of: to affect ignorance
to imitate or assume, esp pretentiously: to affect an accent
to have or use by preference: she always affects funereal clothing
to adopt the character, manner, etc, of: he was always affecting the politician
(of plants or animals) to live or grow in: penguins affect an arctic climate
to incline naturally or habitually towards: falling drops of liquid affect roundness
Origin of affect
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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