take effect

idiomatic phrase

1

: to become operative

The new regulations will take effect next year.

2

: to begin producing an expected or intended effect or result

waiting for the drug to take effect

Examples of take effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

However, the law cannot take effect unless Congress changes federal law to allow states to adopt permanent daylight saving time. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 15 Feb. 2026

Many San Diego County cities are beefing up their e-bike laws under a temporary pilot program that took effect last year with the approval of Assembly Bill 2234, sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

The mere filing of an appeal does not stop the judgment from taking effect. —Wendy Hickey, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026

With legislative Democrats compiling their spending wish list for the next budget, which takes effect July 1, questions remain about how to solve Illinois’ pension quagmire, where growing unfunded pension liabilities now total about $144 billion. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for take effect

• aftereffect
• interconnect
• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct