effective

[ ih-fek-tiv, ee-fek‐ ]

/ ɪˈfɛk tɪv, iˈfɛk‐ /

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See synonyms for: effective / effectively / effectiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.

actually in operation or in force; functioning: The law becomes effective at midnight.

producing a deep or vivid impression; striking: an effective photograph.

prepared and available for service, especially military service.

noun

a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service.

the effective total of a military force.

OTHER WORDS FOR effective

1 capable, competent.

See synonyms for effective on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR effective

1 futile, useless.

See antonyms for effective on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of effective

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Latin effectīvus “practical,” equivalent to effect(us), past participle of efficere (see effect) + -īvus adjective suffix (see -ive)

synonym study for effective

2. operative. 3. telling.

OTHER WORDS FROM effective

ef·fec·tive·ly, adverbef·fec·tive·ness, ef·fec·tiv·i·ty

[ih-fek-tiv-i-tee, ee-fek-] /ɪˌfɛkˈtɪv ɪ ti, iˌfɛk-/ nounpre·ef·fec·tive, adjectivequa·si-ef·fec·tive, adjective

sub·ef·fec·tive, adjectivesu·per·ef·fec·tive, adjectiveun·ef·fec·tive, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effective

affective, effective

Words nearby effective

eff, effable, efface, effacement, effect, effective, effective current, effective dose, effectively, effectiveness, effective resistance

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

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say effective?

The adjective effective describes things that are adequate to accomplish a purpose, or that produce the intended or expected result. But effective isn’t quite the same as effectual, efficacious, or efficient! Find out why on Thesaurus.com.

How to use effective in a sentence

A great way to identify effective keywords is by using Google Trends, one of the world’s largest real-time datasets.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Leading website building tools – such as Wix, Weebly, and WordPress – use technology and analytics to build simple yet effective and useful websites.
Five ways to use machine learning in digital marketing|Birbahadur Kathayat|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
The manufacturers will need to prove vaccines are safe and effective in younger bodies.
Fauci: Vaccines for Kids as Young as First Graders Could Be Authorized by September|by Caroline Chen|February 11, 2021|ProPublica
Quite often, these ads can prove effective in helping you gain new leads.
Smart Bidding: Five ways machine learning improves PPC advertising|Gabrielle Sadeh|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch

We’ve rounded up some of the most effective local SEO strategies for small businesses in 2021 to help you get started.
A small business’ step-by-step guide to dominating local search in 2021|Joseph Dyson|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Watch
He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If the embargo were effective, the Castro brothers would have been doing Love Letters with the Duvaliers years ago.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Build evidence about the practices, policies, and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While there are a couple of antibiotics that usually work, if they are overused they, too, may cease to be effective.
Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis|Russell Saunders|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In order to know what innovations work, you have to have good information on how effective your practices are.
Your Local School Doesn’t Have to Suck|Michael S. Roth|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whatever can be done to bring about the prompt and effective use of this new system of bank settlement will be done.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
It is a notable fact that under the wholly unusual circumstances prevailing, the recovery was so prompt and effective.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
However able the matter, the reading, in my judgment, is much less effective than the spontaneous expression of the speaker.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Thus they had secured a monopoly in Munster and an effective competition with us in poor Connaught.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
It was ten minutes before she raised her hand and pointed to a wilted but still effective screen.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

British Dictionary definitions for effective

effective

/ (ɪˈfɛktɪv) /

adjective

productive of or capable of producing a result

in effect; operativeeffective from midnight

producing a striking impression; impressivean effective entrance

(prenominal) actual rather than theoretical; realthe effective income after deductions

(of a military force, etc) equipped and prepared for action

physics (of an alternating quantity) having a value that is the square root of the mean of the squares of the magnitude measured at each instant over a defined period of time, usually one cycleSee also root mean square

noun

a serviceman who is equipped and prepared for action

Derived forms of effective

effectively, adverbeffectiveness, noun

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

effective

OTHER WORDS FOR effective

OPPOSITES FOR effective

Origin of effective

synonym study for effective

OTHER WORDS FROM effective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH effective

Words nearby effective

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say effective?

Words related to effective

How to use effective in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for effective

Derived forms of effective