effect

[ ih-fekt ]

/ ɪˈfɛkt /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR effect ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence: His protest had no effect.

the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment: to bring a plan into effect.

a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.

meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

the making of a desired impression: We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.

an illusory phenomenon: a three-dimensional effect.

a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer): the Doppler effect.

special effects.

verb (used with object)

to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

Nearby words

efavirenz, eff, eff., effable, efface, effect, effecter, effective, effective conjugate, effective current, effective dose

Idioms

in effect,

for practical purposes; virtually: His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.
essentially; basically.
operating or functioning; in force: The plan is now in effect.

take effect,

to go into operation; begin to function.
to produce a result: The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.

Origin of effect

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effectus the carrying out (of a task, etc.), hence, that which is achieved, outcome, equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere to make, carry out; ef- ef- + -ficere, combining form of facere to do¹) + -tus suffix of v. action

SYNONYMS FOR effect

1 outcome, issue. 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.

10 achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR effect ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ef·fect·i·ble, adjectivepre·ef·fect, noun, verb (used with object)un·ef·fect·ed, adjectiveun·ef·fect·i·ble, adjective

well-ef·fect·ed, adjective

Can be confusedaffect effect (see usage note at affect¹)

Usage note

See affect¹.

Definition for effect (2 of 2)

effects

[ ih-fekts ]

/ ɪˈfɛkts /

plural noun

goods; movables; personal property.

Origin of effects

plural of effect

Synonym study

See property.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for effect

But they say its effect on the regular daily operation of organized crime has been negligible.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So now the company is asking the FCC to, in effect, reverse itself.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security|Kyle Chayka|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A revised version of the law goes into effect on January 1st, 2015.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Lady Ellen was the first person who saw the real me,” said Roome about the effect Weirich has had on her life.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The correspondent does a stand-up next to a burning pile of heroin and gets a taste of its effect.
BBC Reporter Gets High On The Job|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I expected a blow for that, and tried to look as though I did not, being extremely anxious to return it with effect.
Some Persons Unknown|E. W. Hornung
We call cause that which generally precedes a certain manifestation, and effect that which generally follows it.
The Positive Outcome of Philosophy|Joseph Dietzgen
The deputy postmaster general took a serious view of the effect of the proposed relinquishment of the inland postage.
The History of the Post Office in British North America|William Smith
This was Madame Malibran, under the effect of my father's performance of the Gamester, which she had just witnessed.
Records of a Girlhood|Frances Ann Kemble
Cause is simply everything without which the effect would not result, and with which it must result.
A Few Words About the Devil|Charles Bradlaugh

British Dictionary definitions for effect (1 of 2)

effect

/ (ɪˈfɛkt) /

noun

something that is produced by a cause or agent; result

power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacywith no effect

the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect)the law comes into effect at midnight

take effect to become operative or begin to produce results

basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect)

an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect)

a scientific phenomenonthe Doppler effect

in effect

in fact; actually
for all practical purposes

the overall impression or resultthe effect of a painting

verb

(tr) to cause to occur; bring about; accomplish

Word Origin for effect

C14: from Latin effectus a performing, tendency, from efficere to accomplish, from facere to do

British Dictionary definitions for effect (2 of 2)

effects

/ (ɪˈfɛkts) /

pl n

Also called: personal effects personal property or belongings

lighting, sounds, etc, to accompany and enhance a stage, film, or broadcast production

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for effect (1 of 2)

effect

late 14c., "a result," from Old French efet (13c., Modern French effet) "result, execution, completion, ending," from Latin effectus "accomplishment, performance," from past participle stem of efficere "work out, accomplish," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + facere "to do" (see factitious).

Meaning "impression produced on the beholder" is from 1736. Sense in stage effect, sound effect, etc. first recorded 1881. The verb is from 1580s. Related: Effecting; effection.

Word Origin and History for effect (1 of 2)

effects

"goods, property," 1704, plural of effect (n.).

Medicine definitions for effect

effect

[ ĭ-fĕkt′ ]

n.

Something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result.

The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence.

A scientific law, hypothesis, or phenomenon.

The condition of being in full force or execution.

Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or intention.

v.

To bring into existence.

To produce as a result.

To bring about.

Related formsef•fect′i•ble adj.

Idioms and Phrases with effect

effect

see in effect; into effect; take effect; to that effect.

effect

noun

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of effect

Usage note

Definition for effect (2 of 2)

effects

plural noun

Origin of effects

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for effect

British Dictionary definitions for effect (1 of 2)

effect

noun

verb

Word Origin for effect

British Dictionary definitions for effect (2 of 2)

effects

pl n

Word Origin and History for effect (1 of 2)

effect

Word Origin and History for effect (1 of 2)

effects

Medicine definitions for effect

effect

n.

v.

Idioms and Phrases with effect

effect