effect

[ ih-fekt ]

/ ɪˈfɛkt /

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See synonyms for: effect / effected / effecting / effects 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; 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.

Usually effects . a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. Abbreviation: FX

verb (used with object)

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

OTHER WORDS FOR effect

1 outcome, issue.

10 achieve, realize, fulfill, perform, consummate.

See synonyms for effect on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about effect

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

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-, do¹

synonym study for effect

1. 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.

words often confused with effect

See affect¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM effect

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effect

affect, effect (see confusables note at affect¹)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use effect in a sentence

Data from states and counties that have so far required masks in public show that when these policies go into effect, cases and deaths decrease.
When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19||November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
The “extended benefits,” known as “EB,” took effect May 31 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Feds cut extended unemployment benefits in Virginia as state’s economy improves|Laura Vozzella|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The effects of lifestyle change have even made it all the way down to our feet.
The pandemic isn’t ending anytime soon. And our bodies are feeling the stress.|Petula Dvorak|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
The relative recency of this marital trouble — and the adverse effects it had on Diana, whose bulimia figures prominently into “The Crown” — seems to make the season land with more force.
As ‘The Crown’ tackles recent history with Princess Diana, the show hits a nerve|Sonia Rao|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Best makes the argument on evolutionary grounds, and it’s notable that it’s the exact same takeaway I got from muscle physiologist Keith Baar when I wrote about the interference effect.
Rethinking the Cross-Training Paradox|Alex Hutchinson|November 19, 2020|Outside Online
Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power.
The Roots of the GOP’s Race Problem|Michael Tomasky|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The enemy effected and exploited a breach on the left flank, rendering the friendly positions untenable.
Rocker Lenny Kravitz’s Namesake Receives Medal of Honor|Michael Daly|March 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These two maladies that he makes fun of, millions of people, millions of people are effected by these diseases.
Reid: Gates ‘Unethically’ Gossiped and Published Memoir to ‘Make Money’|John L. Smith|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These are employees already being effected by furlough brought under the sequester.
How the Government Shutdown Hurts National Security|Josh Rogin|September 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And for all the faults of the league office, the sport has effected a revolution in how we find the sport.
Why This Is Baseball’s Golden Age|Michael Brendan Dougherty|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Reggie has spoken of you many times, monsieur,” said Fleurette, after the introduction had been effected.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
He warmly espoused the interests of his country, and many important measures were effected by his eloquence.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
We are literally correct in saying that a veritable revolution has already been effected—and the end is not yet.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
Without the use of these actions most of the advances we are about to chronicle would not have been effected.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
The plagued nation effected a revolution over its snuff-boxes in the happiest conceivable manner.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for effect

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

Derived forms of effect

effecter, nouneffectible, adjective

Word Origin for effect

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

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

effect

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

effect

OTHER WORDS FOR effect

Idioms about effect

Origin of effect

synonym study for effect

words often confused with effect

OTHER WORDS FROM effect

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effect

Words related to effect

How to use effect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for effect

Derived forms of effect

Word Origin for effect

Other Idioms and Phrases with effect