effect
Americannoun
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effects
plural
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something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence.
Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
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power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence.
His protest had no effect.
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the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment.
to bring a plan into effect.
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a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
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meaning or sense; purpose or intention.
She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
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the making of a desired impression.
We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.
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an illusory phenomenon.
a three-dimensional effect.
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a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer).
the Doppler effect.
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Usually effects a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. FX
verb (used with object)
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effects,
present (3rd person singular)
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effected,
past participle, past
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effecting
present participle
idioms
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take effect,
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to go into operation; begin to function.
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to produce a result.
The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
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in effect,
noun
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something that is produced by a cause or agent; result
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power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy
with no effect
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the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect )
the law comes into effect at midnight
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to become operative or begin to produce results
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basic meaning or purpose (esp in the phrase to that effect )
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an impression, usually one that is artificial or contrived (esp in the phrase for effect )
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a scientific phenomenon
the Doppler effect
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in fact; actually
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for all practical purposes
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the overall impression or result
the effect of a painting
verb
Usage
What's the difference between effect and affect? Effect is most commonly used as a noun meaning a result or consequence. Affect is most commonly used as a verb meaning to act on or produce a change in someone or something. Remembering the difference between the words can be especially hard because these senses of the words have just about the same pronunciation. Complicating things further is the fact that effect can also be used as a verb (meaning to make happen, as in We can only effect change by taking action) and affect can also be used as a noun (referring to a state of emotion, as in He had a sad affect). However, these senses of the words are much less commonly used. You can remember that affect is most commonly used as a verb because it begins with a, for action. You can also remember how effect and affect are most commonly used by using the acronym RAVEN:R = RememberA = Affect isV = VerbE = Effect is aN = NounHere’s an example of effect and affect used correctly in the same sentence. Example: It’s unclear what immediate effects the new law will have or how it will affect future generations. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between effect and affect.
Commonly Confused
See affect 1.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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effecternoun
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preeffectnoun
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effectibleadjective
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uneffectedadjective
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uneffectibleadjective
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well-effectedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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effectsimple
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effectssimple
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have effectedperfect
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has effectedperfect
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am effectingprogressive
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are effectingprogressive
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is effectingprogressive
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have been effectingperfect progressive
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has been effectingperfect progressive
Past
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effectedsimple
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had effectedperfect
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was effectingprogressive
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were effectingprogressive
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had been effectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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-, do 1
Explanation
Effect is the result of an action, as in those “cause and effect” papers you might write in English class. Your topic could be how your late-night tuba playing (cause) has driven your roommate insane (effect). Another noun use of effect describes an appearance or impression that’s created on purpose, such as the dramatic effect of the bright red walls in your kitchen, or sound effects from your favorite movie. Effect appears less often as a verb, but when it does, it means “produce.” Usually, it’s a noun. It can even refer to your belongings, like when you get kicked out and your former roomie begs you to get all of your personal effects.
Vocabulary lists containing effect
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 1
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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.
See Examples For:
There are also important questions about how long the calming effect lasts.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
“It’s a trickle effect down. If there are no homes being built, nobody gets paid and in turn no one goes to spend money at local groceries, at mom-and-pop shops, and so forth.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
But this time, the group believes the samples show a potential effect on people.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
But after the 2023 law took effect, Williams started hosting guests for 30 days or longer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
An epileptic seizure creates the same effect as shivering in icy water.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
However, this does not establish that people taking duloxetine experience these effects or that consuming isosteviol alongside the medication is harmful.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
His work helped clarify how LPC70 produces different effects in the organs involved in salt-related cardiovascular and cognitive problems.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
Their effects in the brain are more complicated.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
A substance described as metabolically neutral is generally understood to have limited effects on the body's metabolic processes.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026
The object itself no longer survives; we last hear of it in 1494, when it is listed among the effects of Lorenzo the Magnificent, the Medici ruler of Florence, on his death.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
It effected the way it was played too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
The deal will be effected through a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under United Kingdom law, requiring a 75% majority vote from Allfunds shareholders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026
Over the years, habitat loss, poaching and collisions with overhead power lines have effected great Indian bustards.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2024
The spokesperson urged all those effected by Hurricane Helene to apply for assistance.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2024
Children can feel, but they cannot analyse their feelings; and if the analysis is partially effected in thought, they know not how to express the result of the process in words.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Working with the Rock Liberation Front offers the only clear means for effecting change.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
Buchan has not just achieved a clean-up in his own back yard - he is effecting change across great swathes of an enormous country.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024
Toranaga names Blackthorne hatamoto, an honorific indicating high status earned through his courage in effecting Toranaga’s escape.
From New York Times ● Mar. 5, 2024
Ambani, Asia's richest person, has previously said his children Isha, Akash and Anant would have significant roles in the business and that Reliance was "in the process of effecting a momentous leadership transition".
From Reuters ● Aug. 28, 2023
After these had been corrected as far as possible, however, Mr. Baldwin finally succeeded in effecting a compromise settlement, and received from the Company $3500 for the machine.
From Illustrated Catalogue of Locomotives Baldwin Locomotive Works by Matthew Baird
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