effect

[ ih-fekt ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

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

effect

/ 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. take effect
   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. in effect
   1. in fact; actually
   2. for all practical purposes
9. the overall impression or result

   the effect of a painting

verb

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

Confusables Note

See affect ¹.

Derived Forms

• efˈfecter, noun
• efˈfectible, adjective

Other Words From

• ef·fect·i·ble adjective
• pre·ef·fect noun verb (used with object)
• un·ef·fect·ed adjective
• un·ef·fect·i·ble adjective
• well-ef·fect·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of effect¹

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; ef-, do ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of effect¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. take effect,
   1. to go into operation; begin to function.
   2. to produce a result:

      The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.

More idioms and phrases containing effect

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

Synonym Study

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.

Related Words

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