effect
/ɪˈfɛkt
/noun
1A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause: the lethal effects of hard drugs [mass noun]: politicians have some effect on the lives of ordinary people...
- The result has a direct effect on the finished product, which is read by the public.
- Central to that argument was that cannabis had a different effect from hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin.
- There are most likely two factors - apart from voter apathy - which have a significant effect on the poll results.
Synonyms
result, consequence, upshot, outcome, out-turn, sequel, reaction, repercussions, reverberations, ramifications;
end result, conclusion, termination, culmination, denouement, corollary, concomitant, aftermath, footprint, fruit(s), product, by-product;
Medicine sequelae
informal pay-off
dated issue
archaic success
1.1 [mass noun] The state of being or becoming operative.Controversial proposals to switch the school year from three terms to six are now virtually certain to take effect across Hampshire....
- The revisions take effect from this week, says a bank press release.
- The parameters of the agreement are due to be specified by mid-April so that the agreement can take effect in late April.
Synonyms
force, operation, enforcement, implementation, execution, action, effectiveness;
validity, lawfulness, legality, legitimacy, authenticity, legal acceptability
come into force, come into operation, come into being, begin, become operative, become valid, become law, apply, be applied
work, act, be effective, produce results, have the desired effect, be efficacious
1.2 [mass noun] The extent to which something succeeds or is operative: wind power can be used to great effect...
- The German Luftwaffe exercised their doctrine of joint operations in support of ground forces to great effect.
- There is also a fair amount of clever wordplay, delivered rapid-fire to great effect.
- The cinematography is astonishing, almost monochrome, capturing the darkness at the heart of the story, using close ups to great effect.
1.3 [with modifier] Physics A physical phenomenon, typically named after its discoverer: the Renner effect...
- Heinrich Hertz discovered the photoelectric effect, so called because it was caused by light rays, in 1887.
- Atomic beams can act like light waves and exhibit all of the classic wave effects, like interference and refraction.
- The energies are just right inside stars, thanks to an unusual quantum effect known as a resonance.
1.4An impression produced in the mind of a person: gentle music can have a soothing effect...
- All very understandable, but the effect on the impressionable minds of our intellectual class has been deleterious.
- He pointed out that material of that sort could have an effect on impressionable minds.
- Another marine did his best to sneer and look down his nose, though the effect was hardly impressing.
Synonyms
impact, action, effectiveness, efficacy, efficaciousness, influence;
power, potency, strength, usefulness, success
2 (effects) The lighting, sound, or scenery used in a play, film, or broadcast: the production relied too much on spectacular effects...
- There are some great moments in this film featuring multiple directional effects and surround sounds.
- Those technicians would endeavour to provide the particular sound or lighting effects instructed by the promoter.
- Several reviews have not been kind to the film's effects, particularly the creatures summoned by the game.
3 (effects) Personal belongings: the insurance covers personal effects...
- Then, after that, we had to bring all of her clothes and personal effects out of storage.
- Packing up his personal effects and bringing them home was the most upsetting thing I've ever had to do.
- There, he discovers boxes of personal effects, including the pulp literature of his youth.
Synonyms
belongings, possessions, personal possessions, personal effects, goods, worldly goods, chattels, goods and chattels, accoutrements, appurtenances;
property, paraphernalia;
luggage, baggage
informal gear, tackle, kit, things, stuff, junk, rubbish, bits and pieces, bits and bobs
British informal clobber, gubbins
vulgar slang shit, crap
verb [with object]
Cause (something) to happen; bring about: the prime minister effected many policy changes...
- He even stated that he need not name every disease or body part, that God's power was effecting a multitude of cures all over the arena.
- The acceptances were effected by the execution of the acceptance forms.
- So the parliament is stacked against any possibility of really effecting the kind of security, peace and economic policies that I believe in.
Synonyms
achieve, accomplish, carry out, succeed in, realize, attain, manage, bring off, carry off, carry through, execute, conduct, fix, engineer, perform, do, perpetrate, discharge, fulfil, complete, finish, consummate, conclude;
cause, bring about, cause to happen/occur, initiate, put in place, create, produce, make, give rise to;
provoke, call forth, occasion, bring to pass;
generate, originate, engender, precipitate, actuate, wreak, kindle
rare effectuate
Usage
For an explanation of the difference between effect and affect, see affect1 (usage).
Phrases
come into effect
for effect
in effect
put (or bring or carry) something into effect
take effect
to the effect that
to that effect
with effect from
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin effectus, from efficere 'accomplish', from ex- 'out, thoroughly' + facere 'do, make'. sense 3 of the noun, 'personal belongings', arose from the obsolete sense 'something acquired on completion of an action'.
Effect ‘result, consequence’ from Latin effectus, from efficere ‘accomplish, work out’, formed from ex- ‘out, thoroughly’ and facere ‘do’. Its negative is defect (Late Middle English), while deficit (late 18th century) is from Latin deficit ‘it is lacking’, from the verb deficere. The Latin word was used formerly in inventories to record what was missing. Feckless (late 16th century) ‘lacking in efficiency or vitality’ is based on Scots and northern English dialect feck, a shortening of effeck, a variant of effect.