plural effects
1
: something that inevitably follows an antecedent (such as a cause or agent) : result, outcome
the 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.
2
a
: a distinctive impression
The color gives the effect of warmth.
b
: the creation of a desired impression
Her tears were purely for effect.
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
Terrence Rafferty
(2)
: something that alters a sung, played, or recorded sound in order to produce a desired quality
—usually used in plural
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
N'gai Croal and Walaika Haskins3
: the quality or state of being operative : operation
The parking ban is no longer in effect.
The law goes into effect next week.
No coastal warnings or watches were put into effect.—Associated Press
Associated PressThe Government intends to pass legislation giving effect to the reforms …—Thomas Coughlan
see also take effect
Thomas Coughlan4
: 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
Current Biography5
6
: an outward sign : appearance
… his sufferings, instead of exciting their compassion, have been celebrated as the visible effects of divine justice.—Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon7
: 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
Mark BelkoI 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
Robert Louis StevensonIs all our travail turn'd to this effect?—Shakespeare
Shakespearesee 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
effected; effecting; effects
1
: to cause to come into being
2
a
: 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
Effect vs. Affect: Usage Guide
Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb affect entry 2 usually has to do with pretense.
she affected a cheery disposition despite feeling down
The more common verb affect entry 1 denotes having an effect or influence.
the weather affected everyone's mood
The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result.
the new administration hopes to effect a peace settlement
The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect.
waiting for the new law to take effect
the weather had an effect on everyone's mood
Phrases
in effect
: in substance : virtually
the … committee agreed to what was in effect a reduction in the hourly wage—Current Biography
Current Biography
: with the meaning
issued a statement to the effect that he would resign
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.
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
D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Louisiana Louisiana’s law went into effect Jan. 1 requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but the state hasn't issued guidance on what documentation residents need.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Last year, at least 19 people who attended Lightning in a Bottle, a five-day music and art festival held at Buena Vista lake in Kern County, came down with the disease — including several who reported severe effects that included pneumonia-like symptoms, rashes, headaches and exhaustion.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Lara’s policy change, now in effect, will undoubtedly endear him to homeowners in high-risk areas (read: voters) and to realtors, mortgage bankers and builders (read: donors) whose revenues all suffer when large swaths of the state are deemed uninsurable deathtraps.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
That kind of knowledge production has, in effect, been automated.
—D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Louisiana Louisiana’s law went into effect Jan. 1 requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but the state hasn't issued guidance on what documentation residents need.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
Last year, at least 19 people who attended Lightning in a Bottle, a five-day music and art festival held at Buena Vista lake in Kern County, came down with the disease — including several who reported severe effects that included pneumonia-like symptoms, rashes, headaches and exhaustion.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Lara’s policy change, now in effect, will undoubtedly endear him to homeowners in high-risk areas (read: voters) and to realtors, mortgage bankers and builders (read: donors) whose revenues all suffer when large swaths of the state are deemed uninsurable deathtraps.
—Max Taves, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effect
Video
How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'
A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)
Cite this Entry
“Effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effect. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
U.S. Constitution amend. IV3
: the quality or state of being operative
when the new law goes into effect
effect
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: 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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