something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence: Exposure to the sun had the effect of toughening his skin.
power to produce results; efficacy; force; influence: His protest had no effect.
the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment:to bring a plan into effect.
a mental or emotional impression produced, as by a painting or a speech.
meaning or sense; purpose or intention: She disapproved of the proposal and wrote to that effect.
the making of a desired impression: We had the feeling that the big, expensive car was only for effect.
an illusory phenomenon: a three-dimensional effect.
a real phenomenon (usually named for its discoverer): the Doppler effect.
Usually effects . a special effect, practical effect, or visual effect in a movie, TV show, or other video. Abbreviation: FX
verb (used with object)
to produce as an effect; bring about; make happen; accomplish: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.
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Effect and affect: can you keep these two words straight? We can't either which is why we are giving you some examples to learn the difference between the two!
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Idioms for effect
in effect,
for practical purposes; virtually: His silence was in effect a confirmation of the rumor.
essentially; basically.
operating or functioning; in force: The plan is now in effect.
take effect,
to go into operation; begin to function.
to produce a result: The prescribed medicine failed to take effect.
Origin of effect
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin effectus “the carrying out (of a task, etc.),” hence, “accomplishment, outcome,” equivalent to effec- (variant stem of efficere “to make, carry out”; ef- combining form meaning “out, out from, beyond” + -ficere combining form of the verb facere “do, make”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; cf. ef-, do1
1. Effect,consequence(s),result refer to something produced by an action or a cause. An effect is that which is produced, usually more or less immediately and directly: The effect of morphine is to produce sleep. A consequence, something that follows naturally or logically, as in a train of events or sequence of time, is less intimately connected with its cause than is an effect: Punishment is the consequence of disobedience. A result may be near or remote, and often is the sum of effects or consequences as making an end or final outcome: The English language is the result of the fusion of many different elements.
words often confused with effect
See affect1.
OTHER WORDS FROM effect
ef·fect·i·ble,adjectivepre·ef·fect,noun,verb (used with object)un·ef·fect·ed,adjectiveun·ef·fect·i·ble,adjective
“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every TimeAffect? Effect? This slippery duo can send even experienced writers into a spiral of uncertainty. Here's a basic, and effective, guideline for "affect" vs. "effect."