take effect

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

Israel has carried out near-daily strikes in Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement with the militant group Hamas that took effect in October 2025. — Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

However, changes that took effect July 1 have altered the consequences of consolidating. — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Nov. 2026

Jones described a repeat offender in NoDa who racked up five citations after the new rules took effect and simply kept selling. — Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2026

While the precise timing of each warning varied, all were scheduled to take effect Friday afternoon or evening and end early Sunday morning. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 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