effect
noun
, e-, ē-, ə-\
Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
effect
verbDefinition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for effect
Synonyms: Noun
aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, 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
The Supreme Court has allowed President Trump's transgender military ban to go into effect temporarily, while lower courts continue to hear cases challenging the order, The New York Times reported today. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Supreme Court Allows Trump's Transgender Military Ban to Go Into Effect Temporarily," 22 Jan. 2019 This is the first megaproject using Connecting Washington tax increases that took effect in 2015-16. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Renton’s freeway carpool lanes make a $197 million connection this week," 19 Feb. 2019 Congress passed two-year deals in 2013 and 2015 to prevent the sequester from taking effect, and is likely to reach an agreement again. — Kristina Peterson, WSJ, "New White House, Congressional Spending Fights on the Horizon," 16 Feb. 2019 Since the law took effect in 1971, nearly half of the states have changed the name to Presidents' Day. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "When is Presidents' Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?," 14 Feb. 2019 The new prices take effect immediately, unlike some of Netflix's previous rate raises, which have come with a grace period. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "The Price of Netflix Is Going Up," 15 Jan. 2019 Although the rules were originally scheduled to take effect today nationwide, a federal judge blocked them in several states. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "A Federal Judge Blocked the Trump Administration's New Birth Control Rules in 13 States and D.C.," 14 Jan. 2019 These colors are inherently more intense, which is why muted tones tend to have a relaxing effect. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "14 Calming Paint Colors That Will Change the Way You Live," 9 Jan. 2019 However, according to The Hill, both chambers recently received funds to pay interns in appropriations bills in 2018, set to take effect in 2019. — Christianna Silva, Teen Vogue, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Promises She Will Pay Her Congressional Interns, Unlike Much of Congress Historically," 5 Dec. 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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Affect vs. Effect
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
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Statistics for effect
Last Updated
9 Mar 2019
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)
effect
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
See the full definition for effect in the English Language Learners Dictionary
effect
noun
\
Kids Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
effect
verbKids Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
effect
noun
\
Medical Definition of effect
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effect
nounLegal Definition of effect
(Entry 1 of 2)
effect
transitive verbLegal Definition of effect (Entry 2 of 2)
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