effect
noun
e- ,
ē- ,
ə- \
Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : something that inevitably follows an antecedent (such as a cause or agent)
2a : a distinctive impression the color gives the effect of being warm
b : the creation of a desired impression her tears were purely for effect
c(1) : something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression —usually used in plural
(2) effects plural : special effects
3 : the quality or state of being operative : operation the law goes into effect next week
4 : power to bring about a result : influence the content itself of television … is therefore less important than its effect —Current Biography
5 effects plural : movable property : goods personal effects
6 : an outward sign : appearance
: in substance : virtually the … committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage —Current Biography
: with the meaning issued a statement to the effect that he would resign
effect
verbDefinition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to cause to come into being
2a : to bring about often by surmounting obstacles : accomplish effect a settlement of a dispute
b : to put into operation the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens
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Synonyms & Antonyms for effect
Synonyms: Noun
aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot
Synonyms: Verb
beget, breed, bring, bring about, bring on, catalyze, cause, create, do, draw on, effectuate, engender, generate, induce, invoke, make, occasion, produce, prompt, result (in), spawn, translate (into), work, yield
Antonyms: Noun
antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
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Examples of effect in a Sentence
Noun
The nation's most solvent individuals—private-equity barons—have not been immune from the ill effects of the credit crunch. —Daniel Gross, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2008 In the Spanish conquest of the Incas, guns played only a minor role. … They did produce a big psychological effect on those occasions when they managed to fire. —Jared M. Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, 1997 Economic effects of such high speed change are also unpredictable and somewhat chilling … —Genevieve Stuttaford, Publisher's Weekly, 29 July 1996 Unlike the venom of coral snakes, fer-de-lance venom has no direct effect on the nervous system but digests muscle, destroys blood cells and causes hemorrhaging and massive edema (swelling). —Robert K. Colwell, Natural History, April 1985 He now needs more of the drug to achieve the same effect. The experience has had a bad effect on him. Computers have had a profound effect on our lives. The effects of the drug soon wore off. This treatment causes fewer ill effects. The change in policy had little effect on most people. He was able to stop taking the drug without ill effect. The total effect of the painting was one of gloom. The color gives the effect of being warm. He achieves amazing effects with wood.Verb
As the whole progress of mathematics from its ancient simplicities to what we call its "higher" modern developments has been effected by assuming impossibilities and inconceivabilities, your line of argument does not seem to me conclusive. —Bernard Shaw circa 4 Nov. 1932, in Collected Letters: 1926–1950, 1988 When, at last, rescue is at hand, Jewitt has no hesitation in lying to his old friend and master, Maquinna, in order to effect his escape, although he does persuade the captain of the brig Lydia not to kill the chief. —Carolyn Kizer, New York Times Book Review, 21 Feb. 1988 I had just written the Gossets that your address was Drujon Lane, so I would be obliged if you would drop them a card and tell them your release has been effected. —Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979 Hitherto, while gathering up the discourse of Mr. Brocklehurst and Miss Temple, I had not, at the same time, neglected precautions to secure my personal safety; which I thought would be effected, if I could only elude observation. —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847 They are trying to effect a settlement of the dispute. The duty of the legislature is to effect the will of the people.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Ferrante also sees a spillover effect, as nearby restaurants and hotels experience an influx of theatergoers. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "House leaders propose tax incentives for Broadway-bound shows," 13 July 2018 For the most skin-soothing effects, look for a moisturizer containing aloe, which helps calm burned skin. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "The Fastest, Most Effective Ways to Treat a Sunburn," 13 July 2018 The lattice-like design of contrasting pale pink and hunter green leather creates a 3-D effect, evoking chain links or a sporty mesh net. — Rebecca Ramsey, The Cut, "Fendi’s Leather Coat Is a Graphic Feat of Craftsmanship," 12 July 2018 The Mad Tea Party, Pirates of The Caribbean, and Space Mountain will be decked out with new lighting, effects, and/or soundtracks. — Sienna Fantozzi, House Beautiful, "How To Have The Most Spooktacular Halloween At Disney World," 11 July 2018 In the comedy How to Be Single, Rebel Wilson’s proudly unattached character catches sight of her protégé (played by Dakota Johnson) naked beneath a towel in a sauna and laments, to comic effect, the state of her body hair. — Eviana Hartman, Vogue, "The Full Bush Is the New Brazilian! Reasons to Give Up Waxing for Good," 9 July 2018 Oxygen levels that get even lower can cause negative effects, including hypoxia, which can make even basic actions become difficult and extreme cases can be fatal. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "Four Boys Have Been Rescued From Thailand Caves," 8 July 2018 The net effect, in all likelihood, is that some of those people will now simply not see the movie again a second time, because of the high cost of buying a movie ticket. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Why MoviePass is the future — even if it doesn’t survive," 6 July 2018 Another possibility is that corporate concentration may have increased because of lax antitrust enforcement or the growing heft of companies benefiting from network effects, like internet firms. — The Economist, "Companies appear to be gaining market power," 5 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'effect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Phrases Related to effect
Statistics for effect
Last Updated
7 Sep 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for effect
The first known use of effect was in the 14th century
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More Definitions for effect
effect
noun
English Language Learners Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a change that results when something is done or happens : an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause
: a particular feeling or mood created by something
: an image or a sound that is created in television, radio, or movies to imitate something real
effect
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to cause (something) : to make (something) happen
: to cause (something) to produce the desired result
See the full definition for effect in the English Language Learners Dictionary
effect
noun
\
Kids Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause : influence Computers have had an important effect on the way people work.
2 : the act of making a certain impression The tears were only for effect.
3 : execution sense 2, operation The law goes into effect today.
4 effects plural : personal property or possessions household effects
5 : something created in film, television, or radio to imitate something real sound effects
: in actual fact The suggestion was in effect an order.
effect
verbKids Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make happen : bring about effect a change
effect
noun
\
Medical Definition of effect
: something that is produced by an agent or cause obtained the same effect with a smaller dose
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effect
nounLegal Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : something that is produced by an agent or cause
2 plural : personal property sense 1 at property : goods the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures —U.S. Constitution amend. IV
3 : the quality or state of being operative when the new law goes into effect
effect
transitive verbLegal Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to cause to come into being
2 : to bring about often by surmounting obstacles effect a settlement of the dispute
3 : to put into operation the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens
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