effect

1 of 2

noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

e-,

ē-,

ə-

plural effects

1

: something that inevitably follows an antecedent (such as a cause or agent) : result, outcome

the environmental effects of the policy

the health effects of exercise

a cumulative effect

a cause and effect relationship

suffered no ill effects from the treatment

My comment had the effect of ending the conversation.

The pitcher used her slider to good/great effect. [=with a good/great result]

They've complained many times, to little/no effect.

By the turn of the century, the adverse effects of using arsenic tint were widely exposed, … and the practice (thankfully) grew out of fashion.

—Whitney Robinson

2

a

: a distinctive impression

The color gives the effect of warmth.

The moon's low placement in the sky could also cause the orb to appear bigger than usual, according to NASA, due to an effect dubbed the moon illusion.

—Taylor Nicioli

b

: the creation of a desired impression

He paused for dramatic effect before making the big announcement.

Reynaldo revved the engine for effect, which made his father laugh.

—Nell Salzman

c

: something designed to produce a distinctive or desired impression: such as

(1)

: something that alters an artistic work in order to enhance the illusion of reality or heighten dramatic appeal

—usually used in plural

the play's use of lighting effects

We're grateful that the movie doesn't try … to inflate its simple narrative with grandiose action-movie effects.

—Terrence Rafferty

see also sound effects, special effects

(2)

: something that alters a sung, played, or recorded sound in order to produce a desired quality

—usually used in plural

[Les] Paul is also credited with helping pioneer several recording techniques, including delay effects … and overdubbing.

—Troy Smith

As you arrange your samples, you can add effects like reverb, raise or lower the tempo or even run the sample backward.

—N'gai Croal and Walaika Haskins

3

: the quality or state of being operative : operation

The parking ban is no longer in effect.

… the … city council passed an ordinance in June of last year, going into effect in October.

—Killian Baarlaer

No coastal warnings or watches were put into effect.

—Associated Press

The Government intends to pass legislation giving effect to the reforms …

—Thomas Coughlan

see also take effect

4

: power to bring about a result : influence

The content itself of television … is therefore less important than its effect …

—Current Biography

see also take effect

5

effects plural : movable property : goods

household effects

see also personal effects

6

: an outward sign : appearance

… his sufferings, instead of exciting their compassion, have been celebrated as the visible effects of divine justice.

—Edward Gibbon

7

: a goal or purpose : end

Before the bond issue can move ahead, City Council must approve the cooperation agreement. Legislation to that effect was introduced this week.

—Mark Belko

I desire simply to be quit of you; and to that effect, I put a boat and complement of men at your disposal.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?

—Shakespeare

see also auger effect, bandwagon effect, bohr effect, butterfly effect, coriolis effect, domino effect, doppler effect, edge effect, founder effect, greenhouse effect, hall effect, halo effect, hawthorne effect, lake effect, nocebo effect, photoelectric effect, placebo effect, position effect, ripple effect, side effect, zeeman effect

effect

2 of 2

verb

effected; effecting; effects

transitive verb

1

: to succeed in doing or achieving (something) : to cause or bring about (something) : accomplish

effect a transformation in company culture

effected a settlement of the dispute

… a powerful reminder of the potential of technology to effect change.

—Chris Gallagher

2

: to put into operation

the duty of the legislature to effect the will of the citizens

… an executive grant of clemency … to effect the prisoner swap.

—Eric Tucker et al.

Effect vs. Affect: Usage Guide

The words effect and affect are often confused. The most common use of effect is as a noun referring to a change or result.

The defeat had a terrible effect on the players' spirits.

uncertainty about what effect the increase will have

The most common use of affect is as a verb meaning "to produce an effect on."

The new evidence will affect the outcome of the trial.

revisions that affect the final version

If you think of affect as the verb and effect as the noun, most of the time you'll be using the word you want. However, there are some exceptions. Sometimes effect is used as a verb meaning "to cause or bring about" or "to accomplish."

policies that can effect change

Affect is also a noun (pronounced with stress on the first syllable) that refers to an observable emotional response.

notes detailing the patient's affect

Phrases

in effect

: in substance : virtually

… the … committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage.

—Current Biography

to the effect

: with the meaning

I'm not quoting him exactly, but something to the effect that he hoped this would restart something more substantive.

—Michel Martin

Synonyms of effect

Noun

• outcome
• result
• resultant
• consequence
• product

Verb

• cause
• create
• bring
• generate
• prompt
• do

Choose the Right Synonym for effect

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect.

perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

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

To test the disruption theory, the researchers directly examined the effects of beam-plasma instabilities by measuring the jet’s beam profile and associated magnetic field signatures. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025

There’s no overemphasizing how much color is packed into each frame, nor the production team’s palpable commitment to such tactile effects work. —Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025

Mundane loot like monster teeth and eyeballs all have different effects when paired with a basic attack, making for a mind-boggling number of combinations for how to dole out punishment. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025

Last week, Zwerner testified on the longstanding emotional and psychological effects of the shooting. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English effect, effete "achievement, result, capacity to produce a result, gist, purpose," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French effette, effect, borrowed from Latin effectus "carrying out (of a purpose or task), result, mode of operation," from effec-, variant stem of efficere "to make, construct, bring about, produce, carry out" (from ef-, assimilated form of ex- ex- entry 1 + facere "to do, make, bring about") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at fact

Verb

in part verbal derivative of effect entry 1, in part borrowed from Latin effectus, past participle of efficere "to make, bring about" — more at effect entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing effect

• Auger effect
• bandwagon effect
• Bohr effect
• butterfly effect
• Coriolis effect
• cumulative effect
• domino effect
• Doppler effect
• edge effect
• field-effect transistor
• founder effect
• goes into effect
• going into effect
• greenhouse effect
• ground-effect machine
• Hall effect
• halo effect
• Hawthorne effect
• knock-on effect
• lake effect
• nocebo effect
• photoelectric effect
• placebo effect
• position effect
• ripple effect
• side effect
• snowball effect
• special effect
• take effect
• the greenhouse effect
• to that effect
• white coat effect
• Zeeman effect

Rhymes for effect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• eject

Video

How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)

Kids Definition

effect

1 of 2 noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

1

: an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause

2

: influence entry 1 sense 1

the effect of climate on growth

3

plural : personal property or possessions

household effects

4

: the act of making a particular impression

talked merely for effect

5

: execution sense 1, operation

the law went into effect today

effect

2 of 2 verb

: bring about, accomplish

effect a change

effecter noun

Medical Definition

effect

noun

ef·​fect i-ˈfekt 

: something that is produced by an agent or cause

obtained the same effect with a smaller dose

Legal Definition

effect

1 of 2 noun

ef·​fect

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

2 of 2 transitive verb

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