1 ef·fect
Pronounced:
/ɪˈfɛkt/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural ef·fectsMeaning:
1 : a change that results when something is done or happens : an event, condition, or state of affairs that is produced by a cause [count] ▪ The defeat had a terrible effect [=impact] on the team's spirits. ▪ He now needs more of the drug to achieve/get/produce the same effect. ▪ The experience has had a bad/adverse/negative effect on him. ▪ a good/beneficial/positive effect ▪ Computers have had a profound/significant effect on our lives. ▪ The effects of the drug soon wore off. ▪ He was able to stop taking the drug with no ill effects. [=with nothing bad happening] ▪ This treatment causes fewer ill effects. [noncount] ▪ The change in policy had little effect on most people. ▪ the effect [=influence] of climate on growth ▪ He was able to stop taking the drug without ill effect. ◊If something has an effect on something or someone, it changes or influences that thing or person in some way. ▪ The new regulations may have an effect on small businesses. ▪ It could have effects on other businesses as well. —see also domino effect, greenhouse effect, ripple effect, side effect, snowball effect placebo effect at placebo
2 [count] : a particular feeling or mood created by something ▪ The total effect of the painting was one of gloom. ▪ The color gives the effect of being warm. ▪ He achieves/gets amazing effects with wood. ◊Something that is done for effect is done in a deliberate way to produce a particular feeling or reaction. ▪ Her tears were only for effect. [=she was crying or pretending to cry to make people feel sympathy for her] ▪ The movie exaggerates his odd habits for comic/humorous effect. ▪ Before making the announcement, he paused for dramatic effect. [=he paused to make the announcement more dramatic]
3 [count] : an image or a sound that is created in television, radio, or movies to imitate something real : special effect —usually plural ▪ Computers are essential now in creating effects for the movies. ▪ sound effects ▪ visual effects
4 [noncount] : the state of something that is actually working or operating ▪ The policy will be in effect next year. ◊If a law or something like a law takes effect, comes into effect, or goes into effect, it begins to work or to be enforced. ▪ The law went/came into effect today. ▪ The new regulations will take effect next year. ◊If a drug or something like a drug takes effect, it begins to produce the results it is meant to produce. ▪ The medication should take effect half an hour after you take the pills. ◊To give effect to something or to carry/bring/put something into effect is to make it begin doing what it was intended to do. ▪ The court refused to give effect to that part of the document. ▪ The company has not yet carried these plans into effect. [=the company has not yet acted on these plans] ▪ The new regulations will be put into effect next year.
5 effects [plural] : personal property or possessions ▪ household effects ▪ Pick up your (personal) effects before you leave.
2 [count] : a particular feeling or mood created by something ▪ The total effect of the painting was one of gloom. ▪ The color gives the effect of being warm. ▪ He achieves/gets amazing effects with wood. ◊Something that is done for effect is done in a deliberate way to produce a particular feeling or reaction. ▪ Her tears were only for effect. [=she was crying or pretending to cry to make people feel sympathy for her] ▪ The movie exaggerates his odd habits for comic/humorous effect. ▪ Before making the announcement, he paused for dramatic effect. [=he paused to make the announcement more dramatic]
3 [count] : an image or a sound that is created in television, radio, or movies to imitate something real : special effect —usually plural ▪ Computers are essential now in creating effects for the movies. ▪ sound effects ▪ visual effects
4 [noncount] : the state of something that is actually working or operating ▪ The policy will be in effect next year. ◊If a law or something like a law takes effect, comes into effect, or goes into effect, it begins to work or to be enforced. ▪ The law went/came into effect today. ▪ The new regulations will take effect next year. ◊If a drug or something like a drug takes effect, it begins to produce the results it is meant to produce. ▪ The medication should take effect half an hour after you take the pills. ◊To give effect to something or to carry/bring/put something into effect is to make it begin doing what it was intended to do. ▪ The court refused to give effect to that part of the document. ▪ The company has not yet carried these plans into effect. [=the company has not yet acted on these plans] ▪ The new regulations will be put into effect next year.
5 effects [plural] : personal property or possessions ▪ household effects ▪ Pick up your (personal) effects before you leave.
in effect
—used to say that one thing has the same effect or result as something else ▪ The suggestion was in effect an order.
to good effect
◊If you use something to good/great/fine/outstanding (etc.) effect, you use it in a way that produces good results. ▪ The city has used these resources to good effect. ▪ These changes have been implemented to great effect.
to little/no effect
◊If something is done to little effect or to no effect, it produces little or no change. ▪ His doctors have repeatedly adjusted his medication to little effect.
to that effect or to the effect that
—used to indicate that the meaning of words is roughly correct even if the words themselves are not completely accurate ▪ He said more time was needed to reach a decision, or words to that effect. = He said something to the effect that more time was needed to reach a decision.