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

Greenland has repeatedly asked the EU to lift its ban on seal products, in effect since 2009, saying it harms indigenous people in the Arctic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

In effect, the Leipzig attack was like a maneuver in a war game, or a feint.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

The Scottish government's policy to cap bus fares in the west of Scotland at £2 has taken effect.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

It remains to be seen if Wright’s resignation and that of another board member announced Sunday will have any effect on a decision regarding the coaches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

It has the calming, serene effect that an event like this needs.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

For now, CAR-T treatment generally comes only after other treatments have failed, in part because of potential side effects such as inflammation caused by the infusion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

"We consider another hike a mistake because there is almost no evidence of knock-on effects," Felix Schmidt, senior economist at Berenberg bank, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Thousands of people across South East Asia are now feeling the effects of those emissions in their eyes, chests and throats.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

A common assumption has been that these compounds are largely expelled from the body without causing major metabolic effects.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

Hazel moved to the edge of the sidewalk and concentrated on the odd effects of her wraith-poisoned heart.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

If the civil-rights revolution was primarily effected by patient application of the laws, “By Any Means” suggests some of its reforms came about via the impatient application of fists.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Later on Wednesday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the president will raise the global tariff to 15% in the coming days "where appropriate" but did not name which countries would be effected.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

Rather than fight, Nicolls and Stuyvesant effected a merger.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025

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

"You have companies that are reasonably similar, so when growth rates change it is effecting quite a few companies in a similar way," he says.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2025

We are "committed to effecting a seamless transition as we prepare to join Deloitte," the memo said.

From Reuters ● Oct. 10, 2023

As critical American institutions, they would thus be effecting important public values.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2023

He found him dreadfully wounded; but at length, by strict attention and consummate skill, succeeded in effecting a cure.

From The History of Margaret Catchpole A Suffolk Girl by Richard Cobbold

Related Words

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