effect
Americannoun
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effects
plural
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something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence.
Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
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power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence.
His protest had no effect.
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the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment.
to bring a plan into effect.
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a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
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meaning or sense; purpose or intention.
She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
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the making of a desired impression.
We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.
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an illusory phenomenon.
a three-dimensional effect.
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a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer).
the Doppler effect.
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Usually effects a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. FX
verb (used with object)
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effects,
present (3rd person singular)
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effected,
past participle, past
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effecting
present participle
idioms
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take effect,
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to go into operation; begin to function.
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to produce a result.
The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
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in effect,
noun
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something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
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power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy
with no effect
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the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect )
the law comes into effect at midnight
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to become operative or begin to produce results
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basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect )
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an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect )
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a scientific phenomenon
the Doppler effect
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in fact; actually
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for all practical purposes
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the overall impression or result
the effect of a painting
verb
Usage
What's the difference between effect and affect? Effect is most commonly used as a noun meaning a result or consequence. Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning to act on or produce a change in someone or something. Remembering the difference between the words can be especially hard because these senses of the words have just about the same pronunciation. Complicating things further is the fact that effect can also be used as a verb (meaning to make happen, as in We can only effect change by taking action) and affect can also be used as a noun (referring to a state of emotion, as in He had a sad affect). However, these senses of the words are much less commonly used. You can remember that affect is most commonly used as a verb because it begins with a, for action. You can also remember how effect and affect are most commonly used by using the acronym RAVEN:R = RememberA = Affect isV = VerbE = Effect is aN = NounHere’s an example of effect and affect used correctly in the same sentence. Example: It’s unclear what immediate effects the new law will have or how it will affect future generations. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between effect and affect.
Commonly Confused
See affect 1.
Synonym Usage
Effect, consequence(s), result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence, something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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effecternoun
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preeffectnoun
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effectibleadjective
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uneffectedadjective
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uneffectibleadjective
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well-effectedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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effectsimple
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effectssimple
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have effectedperfect
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has effectedperfect
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am effectingprogressive
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are effectingprogressive
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is effectingprogressive
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have been effectingperfect progressive
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has been effectingperfect progressive
Past
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effectedsimple
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had effectedperfect
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was effectingprogressive
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were effectingprogressive
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had been effectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of effect
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin effectus “the carrying out (of a task, etc.),” hence, “accomplishment, outcome,” equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere “to make, carry out”; ef- combining form meaning “out, out from, beyond” + -ficere combining form of the verb facere “do, make”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; cf. ef-, do 1
Explanation
Effect is the result of an action, as in those “cause and effect” papers you might write in English class. Your topic could be how your late-night tuba playing (cause) has driven your roommate insane (effect). Another noun use of effect describes an appearance or impression that’s created on purpose, such as the dramatic effect of the bright red walls in your kitchen, or sound effects from your favorite movie. Effect appears less often as a verb, but when it does, it means “produce.” Usually, it’s a noun. It can even refer to your belongings, like when you get kicked out and your former roomie begs you to get all of your personal effects.
Vocabulary lists containing effect
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 1
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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:
Peaches are particularly lovely here, though I’ve made the same syrup with blackberries to equally good effect.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
A landmark Cochrane review assessed all the relevant evidence looking at the effect of exercise on osteoarthritis.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
It’s not at all clear whether the sale of the Lakers will have any effect on the ongoing investigations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
A hurricane warning is in effect for Big Island, while Maui County, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau are under a tropical storm warnings.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
That was one advantage to growing old, I thought, as I worked my arms into the sleeves and surveyed the effect in the mirror on the wardrobe door.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
The range and scope of ongoing litigation show how anger at Meta and other social media companies over their products’ effects on kids has spilled into broad bipartisan agreement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Suspending tariffs would help "our businesspeople who are facing very difficult times because of the effects of the earthquake," De la Espriella said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Even so, researchers are still working to understand exactly how gut bacteria process the many components of plant foods and how those interactions produce beneficial effects.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026
"The effects of Tropical Storm Lala is here," the agency said on X.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Also, sound effects are added to enhance the action or bring a fuller meaning or experience.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
External ritual gave way to interior experience, and this inward turn, Mr. Persico tells us, effected “one of the most momentous revolutions” in the history of the West.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025
The judge said: "The traffic on this occasion was barely crawling and brought to a standstill while the arrests were effected."
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2024
The spokesperson urged all those effected by Hurricane Helene to apply for assistance.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2024
In the end, Musk dictated the Grant’s terms, and the committee effected those wishes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2024
But finally, with a shrug and a worried “Ai, Chihuahua,” he climbed behind the wheel and effected another U-tum.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Working with the Rock Liberation Front offers the only clear means for effecting change.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
We are "committed to effecting a seamless transition as we prepare to join Deloitte," the memo said.
From Reuters ● Oct. 10, 2023
As critical American institutions, they would thus be effecting important public values.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2023
The pangrams from yesterday’s Spelling Bee were effecting and infecting.
From New York Times ● May 12, 2023
The wonderful achievement of the Ti-pings, not only in effecting an important moral revolution, but also a national deliverance of their countrymen, affords an almost incredible psychological phenomenon.
From Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh The History of the Ti-Ping Revolution (Volume I) by Augustus F. Lindley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
