effect

American  

[ih-fekt] / ɪˈfɛkt /

noun

• effects
  plural

1. 

   something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence.

   Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.

   Synonyms:

   issue, outcome

2. power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence.

   His protest had no effect.

3. the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment.

   to bring a plan into effect.

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

5. meaning or sense; purpose or intention.

   She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.

6. the making of a desired impression.

   We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.

7. an illusory phenomenon.

   a three-dimensional effect.

8. a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer).

   the Doppler effect.

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

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verb (used with object)

• effects,
  present (3rd person singular)
• effected,
  past participle,  past
• effecting
  present participle

1. to produce as an effect; bring about; make happen; accomplish.

   The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

   Synonyms:

   consummate, perform, fulfill, realize, achieve

idioms

1. take effect,

   1. to go into operation; begin to function.

   2. to produce a result.

      The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.

2. in effect,

   1. for practical purposes; virtually.

      His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.

   2. essentially; basically.

   3. operating or functioning; in force.

      The plan is now in effect.

effect British  

/ ɪˈfɛkt /

noun

1. something that is produced by a cause or agent; result

2. power or ability to influence or produce a result; efficacy

   with no effect

3. the condition of being operative (esp in the phrases in or into effect )

   the law comes into effect at midnight

4. to become operative or begin to produce results

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

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

7. a scientific phenomenon

   the Doppler effect

8. 1. in fact; actually

   2. for all practical purposes

9. the overall impression or result

   the effect of a painting

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verb

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

effect More Idioms  

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

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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

• effecter
  noun
• preeffect
  noun
• effectible
  adjective
• uneffected
  adjective
• uneffectible
  adjective
• well-effected
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• effects
  plural

Participles

• effecting
  present
• effected
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• effect
  simple
• effects
  simple
• have effected
  perfect
• has effected
  perfect
• am effecting
  progressive
• are effecting
  progressive
• is effecting
  progressive
• have been effecting
  perfect progressive
• has been effecting
  perfect progressive

Past

• effected
  simple
• had effected
  perfect
• was effecting
  progressive
• were effecting
  progressive
• had been effecting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will effect
  simple
• will have effected
  perfect
• will be effecting
  progressive
• will have been effecting
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

effect effects effected effecting

Still, gale warnings were in effect from Delaware to Maine, while an even wider array of states was under coastal flood advisories.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

In 2017, researchers at the Center for Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Salzburg tested whether the pratfall effect applied to robots.

From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026

In effect, they act as microscopic extensions of the root system, helping plants reach and absorb nutrients more efficiently.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

But a group called People Not Politicians and its executive director, Richard von Glahn, gathered more than 300,000 signatures for a referendum to challenge the new law before it took effect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

“Well, if it’s just the effect you’re after, perhaps one of the pipas,” I said to Miss Mathis.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

"The effects of war reach into the safest parts of the world," added the university student, saying it was a "bit of a reality check".

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

The two proteins appear to have opposing effects.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026

Rising temperatures also mean that our vegetation and soils dry out more quickly - which can worsen the effects of low rainfall.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

But the effects of near-term changes in interest rates should be much smaller for a 10-year, and negligible for a 30-year bond, unless you expect higher rates to last.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Afterward, she described the effects of liquefaction—indoors and out.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

External ritual gave way to interior experience, and this inward turn, Mr. Persico tells us, effected “one of the most momentous revolutions” in the history of the West.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

Rather than fight, Nicolls and Stuyvesant effected a merger.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025

The judge said: "The traffic on this occasion was barely crawling and brought to a standstill while the arrests were effected."

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2024

In the end, Musk dictated the Grant’s terms, and the committee effected those wishes.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2024

It was so much worse than if it had been a physical sickness, for which a cause might be known, medicine given, a cure effected.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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

You see, with every other officer excluded under the provision, the state official or state court effecting that exclusion would feel the political costs of their decision alone.

From Slate ● Dec. 20, 2023

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

Strange that success in effecting an escape should be promoted by the bursting of a boiler—an accident which, had it come alone, would have occasioned terror and dismay.

From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 2 by Frederick Whymper

Related Words

• aftermath
• consequence
• development
• event
• fallout
• issue
• outcome
• ramification
• reaction
• repercussion
• response
• side effect