Definitions for effect
ɪˈfɛktef·fect

Princeton's WordNet(3.57 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. consequence, effect, outcome, result, event, issue, upshotnoun

   a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

   "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event"

2. impression, effectnoun

   an outward appearance

   "he made a good impression"; "I wanted to create an impression of success"; "she retained that bold effect in her reproductions of the original painting"

3. effectnoun

   an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)

   "he just did it for effect"

4. effect, essence, burden, core, gistnoun

   the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

5. effect, forcenoun

   (of a law) having legal validity

   "the law is still in effect"

6. effectverb

   a symptom caused by an illness or a drug

   "the effects of sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic"

7. effect, effectuate, set upverb

   produce

   "The scientists set up a shock wave"

8. effectverb

   act so as to bring into existence

   "effect a change"

Wiktionary(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. effectnoun

   The result or outcome of a cause. See usage notes below.

   The effect of the hurricane was a devastated landscape.

2. effectnoun

   An illusion produced by technical means (as in "special effect")

   The effect of flying was most convincing.

3. effectnoun

   An alteration in sound after it has been produced by an instrument.

   I use an echo effect here to make the sound more mysterious.

4. effectnoun

   A device for producing an alteration in sound produced by an instrument.

   I just bought a couple of great effects.

5. effectnoun

   The state of being binding and enforceable, as in a rule, policy, or law.

   The new law will come into effect on the first day of next year.

6. effectnoun

   A scientific phenomenon, usually named after its discoverer.

   Doppler effect

7. effectnoun

   Belongings, usually as personal effects.

8. effectverb

   To make or bring about; to implement.

   The best way to effect change is to work with existing stakeholders.

9. Etymology: For noun: from effect (French: effet), from effectus, from efficio; see effect as a verb.

Webster Dictionary(1.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Effectnoun

   execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes into effect in May

2. Effectnoun

   manifestation; expression; sign

3. Effectnoun

   in general: That which is produced by an agent or cause; the event which follows immediately from an antecedent, called the cause; result; consequence; outcome; fruit; as, the effect of luxury

4. Effectnoun

   impression left on the mind; sensation produced

5. Effectnoun

   power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance; account; as, to speak with effect

6. Effectnoun

   consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; -- with to

7. Effectnoun

   the purport; the sum and substance

8. Effectnoun

   reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere appearance

9. Effectnoun

   goods; movables; personal estate; -- sometimes used to embrace real as well as personal property; as, the people escaped from the town with their effects

10. Effectverb

    to produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be

11. Effectverb

    to bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to accomplish

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Effect

   ef-fekt′, n. the result of an action: impression produced: reality: the consequence intended: (pl.) goods: property.—v.t. to produce: to accomplish.—ns. Effec′ter, Effec′tor.—adjs. Effec′tible, that may be effected; Effec′tive, having power to effect: causing something: powerful: serviceable.—adv. Effec′tively.—n. Effec′tiveness.—adjs. Effect′less, without effect, useless; Effec′tual, successful in producing the desired effect: (Shak.) decisive.—n. Effectual′ity.—adv. Effec′tually.—v.t. Effec′tuate, to accomplish.—n. Effectua′tion.—Effectual calling (theol.), the invitation to come to Christ which the elect receive.—For effect, so as to make a telling impression; General effect, the effect produced by a picture, &c., as a whole; Give effect to, to accomplish, perform; In effect, in truth, really: substantially.—Leave no effects, to die without property to bequeath.—Take effect, to begin to operate: to come into force. [Fr.,—L. efficĕre, effectum, to accomplish—ex, out, facĕre, to make.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. effect

   1. The physical or behavioral state of a system that results from an action, a set of actions, or another effect. 2. The result, outcome, or consequence of an action. 3. A change to a condition, behavior, or degree of freedom.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. effect

   The ability or power to create.

   The effect was positive and easy therefore it was allowed.

   Submitted by MaryC on January 22, 2020  

2. effect

   The feeling produced by a specific cause

   The effect of the new Socialist Unity Government is amazing, the people are singing and dancing together with unity and gratitude in the streets all across the country

   Submitted by MaryC on April 8, 2021  

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Appearance
   • Impression
   • Law
   • Meaning
   • Validity

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'effect' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #380

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'effect' in Written Corpus Frequency: #914

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'effect' in Nouns Frequency: #64

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'effect' in Verbs Frequency: #933

How to pronounce effect?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say effect in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of effect in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of effect in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of effect in a Sentence

1. Harriet Hageman:

   I know that Liz Cheney is a proven, courageous, constitutional conservative, someone who has the education, the background and experience to fight effectively for Wyoming on a national stage, there have been and will continue to be concerted efforts to force true conservatives to sit down and shut up. Those efforts have never worked on me and I know that they will not work on and have no effect on Liz Cheney.

2. Cynthia Nixon:

   It’s called The Cynthia Effect, since I got in the race, Cuomo has moved left not only on marijuana, but climate change, teacher evaluations, restoring voting rights and banning plastic bags.

3. Bill Harris:

   This is a big-enough move (in the oil price) that will have a knock-on effect on everything.

4. Song Myung-sup:

   The new smartphone effect will likely fizzle out in the fourth quarter, as people don't find Samsung's new Note model, which came out several months ago, very attractive anymore, that will result in a drop in shipments and eventually less profit.

5. Dina Suleiman:

   His visit had a double effect: on the one hand it is showing a side of Saudi Arabia that has never before been seen in the West... on the other hand he is leveraging his age in a positive way.

Popularity rank by frequency of use