effectively

American

[ih-fek-tiv-lee, ee-fek‐] / ɪˈfɛk tɪv li, iˈfɛk‐ /

adverb

in a way that accomplishes a purpose or produces the intended or expected results.

These scissors are no longer sharp and do not cut effectively.
You may not like all your coworkers, but you still have to learn to work effectively with them.
in actuality; in practice.

Allowing the legislature to take existing money for schools and use it for other purposes effectively means there will be no new money for education.
in a way that produces a vivid impression; strikingly.

The visually rich photographs are effectively displayed against the stark white gallery walls.

Other Word Forms

preeffectively adverb
quasi-effectively adverb
subeffectively adverb
supereffectively adverb
uneffectively adverb

Etymology

Origin of effectively

effective ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Even if the harms are as devastating as some argue, it doesn’t necessarily follow that blanket bans will effectively mitigate these harms.

From The Wall Street Journal

If staffing continues to slide, Smith said, the airport could struggle to process passengers and could effectively shut down.

From The Wall Street Journal

Absent a decisive defeat, Iran could effectively control the strait indefinitely, he said.

From Barron's

Chief among them is getting the right mix of calcium oxide and its proprietary binding agent, so the pellets effectively store energy while holding their shape over many charge-discharge cycles.

From The Wall Street Journal

The deadline extension effectively allows Iran to maintain its restrictions on the strait for another ten days.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023