effect

noun

UK /ɪˈfekt/

Word Forms

singular	effect
plural	effects

1
countable/uncountable a change that is produced in one person or thing by another
effect on/upon:
Scientists are studying the chemical’s effect on the environment.
have an effect on something:
Any change in lifestyle will have an effect on your health.
have some/little/no effect:
The NAFTA agreement has had little effect on the lives of most Americans.
an adverse/beneficial effect (=a bad/good effect):
East German companies were suffering the adverse effects of German economic union.
reduce/counter the effect(s) of something:
Relaxation can reduce the negative effects of stress on the immune system.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
effect
change
trend
Synonyms and related words
General words for results and outcomes
result
outcome
influence
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with effect
▪ adverse, beneficial, cumulative, damaging, detrimental, dramatic, harmful, immediate, knock-on, major, negative, positive, profound, serious, significant, substantial
2
countable an appearance or reaction that is deliberately produced, for example by a writer, artist, or musician
The bold colours in this room create a dramatic effect.
That’s exactly the effect I wanted.
get/produce/achieve an effect:
Students should learn how they can achieve different stylistic effects in their writing.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to the work of an artist
aesthetic
cherub
commission
1. 2a
  
  effects
  plural cinemaspecial artificial images and sounds created for a film
  I didn’t think much of the plot, but the effects were amazing.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of films, stories and plays
  act
  action
  ad-lib
2. 2b
  countable usually singularan artificial appearance given to a surface or to an object
  marble-effect wallpaper
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for appearances
  optics
  appearance
  look
3
countable usually singularsomething that regularly happens, according to a law, for example in science
the Doppler effect
what economists call ‘the multiplier effect’
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
4

effects
or
personal effects
plural formalthe things that belong to you
Synonyms and related words
General words for possessions
real estate
property
stuff

phrases

come into effect

for effect

in effect

put/bring/carry something into effect

take effect

to the effect that

to good/full/little etc effect

with effect from

effect

noun

US /ɪˈfekt/

Word Forms

singular	effect
plural	effects

1
countable/uncountable a change that is produced in one person or thing by another
an adverse/beneficial effect (=a bad/good effect):
East German companies were suffering the adverse effects of German economic union.
effect on/upon:
Scientists are studying the chemical’s effect on the environment.
have an effect on something:
Any change in lifestyle will have an effect on your health.
have some/little/no effect:
The NAFTA agreement has had little effect on the lives of most Americans.
reduce/counter the effect(s) of something:
Relaxation can reduce the negative effects of stress on the immune system.
Synonyms and related words
Changes
change
effect
trend
Synonyms and related words
General words for results and outcomes
result
outcome
influence
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with effect
▪ adverse, beneficial, cumulative, damaging, detrimental, dramatic, harmful, immediate, major, negative, positive, profound, serious, significant, substantial
2
countable an appearance or reaction that is deliberately produced, for example by a writer, artist, or musician
The bold colors in this room create a dramatic effect.
That’s exactly the effect I wanted.
get/produce/achieve an effect:
Students should learn how they can achieve different stylistic effects in their writing.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to the work of an artist
aesthetic
cherub
commission
1. 2a
  
  effects
  plural cinemaspecial artificial images and sounds created for a movie
  I didn’t think much of the plot, but the effects were amazing.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of movies, stories and plays
  act
  action
  ad-lib
2. 2b
  countable usually singularan artificial appearance given to a surface or to an object
  marble-effect wallpaper
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for appearances
  optics
  appearance
  look
3
countable usually singularsomething that regularly happens, according to a law, for example in science
the Doppler effect
what economists call “the multiplier effect”
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
4

effects
or
personal effects
plural formalthe things that belong to you
Synonyms and related words
General words for possessions
real estate
property
stuff

phrases

come into effect

for effect

in effect

put/bring/carry something into effect

take effect

to the effect that

to good/full/little etc. effect

with effect from

effect

verb transitive formal

UK /ɪˈfekt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	effect
he/she/it	effects
present participle	effecting
past tense	effected
past participle	effected

1
to make something happen
If correctly administered, such drugs can effect radical cures.
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
trigger
form

effect

verb transitive formal

US /ɪˈfekt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	effect
he/she/it	effects
present participle	effecting
past tense	effected
past participle	effected

1
to make something happen
If correctly administered, such drugs can effect radical cures.
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
start off
create

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