effect
Americannoun
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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)
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:
Rahmstorf accepts that global warming could soften the cooling effect in average temperatures.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Those needs have expanded “beyond core technology and infrastructure, energy and data centers, generating a ripple effect across industries,” Goldman CEO David Solomon said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Researchers also accounted for the Doppler effect, the same phenomenon that changes the pitch of a passing ambulance siren.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
The framework agreement was concluded after a fragile ceasefire came into effect last month in the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
The effect, he went on to demonstrate, was to make him ever more certain that the entire financial world was wrong and he was right.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
But at the same time he'd witnessed the effects of certain industries fading away in the North West of England.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
But as fertility rates fall, migration counterbalances the negative effects of an ageing population and labour force contraction, the report said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Researchers also want to investigate whether combining GLP-1 medications with healthy habits such as diet, exercise, and quality sleep could produce even greater effects on biological aging.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
But if Japan were to make substantive changes to how its pension funds invest and repatriate their overseas holdings, the effects would be much more significant and long-lasting.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
Explore, map the land, the drying effects of climate change.
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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
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
But much of the transformation was also effected as a result of plants’ selecting themselves.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Working with the Rock Liberation Front offers the only clear means for effecting change.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
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
Meanwhile Mo Salah is back to his brilliant, unselfish and supportive best and has erased the sort of antics now effecting Luiz Diaz.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2023
We are "committed to effecting a seamless transition as we prepare to join Deloitte," the memo said.
From Reuters ● Oct. 10, 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 Baird, Matthew
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
