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
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. Send us feedback.
Six of the officer's bullets took effect, police said. Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Next year will be the biggest premium increase since the ACA took effect, said Art Caplan, the head of the medical ethics division at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the rule in the Federal Register, confirming that the new immigration fee took effect on October 16, 2025. Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025 The bill takes effect in January. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for take effect

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of take effect was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Take effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20effect. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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