effect
something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
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.
Usually effects . a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. Abbreviation: FX
to produce as an effect; bring about; make happen; accomplish: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.
Idioms about effect
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
1synonym study For effect
confusables note For effect
Other words for effect
Other words from effect
- ef·fect·i·ble, adjective
- pre·ef·fect, noun, verb (used with object)
- un·ef·fect·ed, adjective
- un·ef·fect·i·ble, adjective
- well-ef·fect·ed, adjective
Words that may be confused with effect
Words Nearby effect
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use effect in a sentence
Bells had no discernible effect, while cats fitted with Birdsbesafe collars brought home 42 percent fewer birds, but roughly the same number of mammals, which aligns with previous research.
Meatier meals and more playtime might reduce cats’ toll on wildlife | Jonathan Lambert | February 11, 2021 | Science NewsAt the peak of the crisis in April, that’s when we found the greatest effect of social capital on the virus.
Researchers identify social factors inoculating some communities against coronavirus | Christopher Ingraham | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostThe AI Video Interview Act in Illinois, which went into effect in January 2020, requires companies to tell candidates when they use AI in video interviews.
Auditors are testing hiring algorithms for bias, but there’s no easy fix | Amy Nordrum | February 11, 2021 | MIT Technology ReviewFraming it like this is obviously and immediately political, of course, but we do so to present evidence that the polarization of the virus has itself potentially contributed to its effects.
What you’re saying when you say that covering the coronavirus is partisan | Philip Bump | February 9, 2021 | Washington PostThe owners can put the 17-game season into effect at any point over the next few years, with an accompanying reduction in preseason games.
NFL begins an uncertain offseason, with questions about vaccines, the salary cap and more | Mark Maske | February 9, 2021 | Washington Post
In Israel, however, a new law took effect January 1st that banned the use of underweight models.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut they say its effect on the regular daily operation of organized crime has been negligible.
All of these increased barriers then have a snowball effect.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating | Ellie Schaack | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSo 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 | THE DAILY BEASTA 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn this case, I suspect, there was co-operant a strongly marked childish characteristic, the love of producing an effect.
Children's Ways | James SullyHe shrank, as from some one who inflicted pain as a child, unwittingly, to see what the effect would be.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodAnd so this is why the clever performer cannot reproduce the effect of a speech of Demosthenes or Daniel Webster.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickThe well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.
Children's Ways | James SullyShe stabbed him, noting the effect upon him with a detached interest that seemed indifferent to his pain.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
British Dictionary definitions for effect
/ (ɪˈfɛkt) /
something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy: with 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 phenomenon: the Doppler effect
in effect
in fact; actually
for all practical purposes
the overall impression or result: the effect of a painting
(tr) to cause to occur; bring about; accomplish
Origin of effect
1- See also effects
Derived forms of effect
- effecter, noun
- effectible, adjective
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with effect
see in effect; into effect; take effect; to that effect.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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