effect
effect
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "effect" is /ɪˈfɛkt/.
First Syllable: /ɪ/ (as in "in")
Second Syllable: /fɛkt/ (as in "fetch" + "t")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: effect
Plural: effects
Verb:
Base form: effect
Third-person singular present: effects
Present participle: effecting
Past tense: effected
Past participle: effected
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
Synonyms: result, consequence, outcome, repercussion, upshot
Antonyms: cause, origin, source, root
Example: The new policy had a significant effect on the company's productivity.
Definition 2 (often plural, "effects"): Personal belongings or property.
Synonyms: belongings, possessions, assets, property, goods
Antonyms: (None readily applicable, as this refers to a category of items)
Example: After checking out, she gathered her personal effects from the hotel room.
Definition 3: The impression produced by a painting, work of art, or a particular quality.
Synonyms: impression, impact, influence, sensation, aura
Antonyms: (None readily applicable, as this refers to an intangible result)
Example: The dramatic lighting created a stunning effect on the stage.
Verb
Definition 1: To cause something to happen; to bring about or accomplish.
Synonyms: accomplish, achieve, bring about, create, implement, execute, cause
Antonyms: prevent, hinder, impede, obstruct, negate
Example: The manager's timely intervention helped to effect a positive change in team morale.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The long-term effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident around the globe, from rising sea levels to more extreme weather events." (Excerpt from a non-fiction book on environmental science, published October 2023)
"She tried to effect a graceful exit, but her words caught in her throat, leaving her fumbling for an excuse." (Fictional novel, published February 2024)
Newspapers:
"The recent interest rate hike is expected to have a significant effect on the housing market, potentially cooling demand." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Local authorities are working to effect changes in public transportation to reduce traffic congestion." (The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Research suggests that regular exercise can have a profound positive effect on mental health." (Psychology Today)
"A new study reveals the subtle effects of social media on teenage anxiety levels." (CNN Health)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The special effects in the latest blockbuster were truly breathtaking, making the alien invasion feel incredibly real." (Film critic review, Rotten Tomatoes, December 2024)
Television Series: "Her powerful performance had a lasting effect on the audience, sparking discussions long after the episode aired." (Review of a drama series, The Hollywood Reporter, January 2025)
Video Game: "Players' choices in the game have a direct effect on the storyline and the ultimate outcome." (Game review, IGN, November 2024)
Music: "The band used unique sound effects to create an otherworldly atmosphere in their latest album." (Music review, Pitchfork, September 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"The new regulations will hopefully take effect by the end of the year, bringing much-needed clarity." (Statement by a government official in a press conference)
"We need to consider the ripple effect of these decisions on the entire community." (Comment made during a local town hall meeting)
10 Quotes Using Effect
"Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed." (Joseph Stalin)
"Words differently arranged have a different meaning, and meanings differently arranged have different effects." (Blaise Pascal)
"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." (John Quincy Adams)
"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects." (Arnold H. Glasow)
"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools." (Herbert Spencer)
"Everything we do, even the slightest thing we do, can have a ripple effect and repercussions that emanate." (Victor Webster)
"Nature is the source of all true knowledge. She has her own logic, her own laws, she has no effect without cause nor invention without necessity." (Leonardo da Vinci)
"Act so that the effects of your actions are compatible with the permanence of genuine human life." (Hans Jonas)
"A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale. If wise, he has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his incidents; but having conceived, with deliberate care, a certain unique or single effect to be wrought out, he then invents as may best aid him in establishing this preconceived 1effect." (Edgar Allan Poe)
"The cause is hidden; the effect is visible to all." (Ovid)
Etymology
The word "effect" comes from the Latin word "effectus," which means "accomplishment," "performance," or "result." This Latin word itself comes from "efficere," meaning "to accomplish, make, or do." If you break down "efficere," it's like "ex-" (meaning "out" or "thoroughly") combined with "facere" (meaning "to do" or "to make"). So, literally, "effect" is about "bringing something out" or "making something happen thoroughly."
The noun "effect" entered the English language in the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500), largely through Old French. Its first known use in English, around 1385, carried the meaning of "execution or completion (of an act)" or "a result or outcome." Over time, its meaning expanded to include things like personal belongings (often in the plural, "effects") and the impression something makes.
The verb "to effect" (meaning "to cause something to happen" or "to bring about") appeared a bit later, in the late 1500s.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Effect
In effect: In reality; practically speaking.
To take effect: To begin to operate or be implemented.
To put into effect: To implement or carry out a plan.
To no effect: Without producing the desired result.
For effect: Done or said to create a particular impression, often to amuse or impress.
Side effect: An unintended and usually unwelcome consequence of a drug or other intervention.
Ripple effect: The continuing and spreading results of an event or action.
Cause and effect: The principle of causation; that every event has a cause.
Net effect: The final result after all additions and subtractions have been made.
To good effect: With a successful or positive outcome.
Cumulative effect: The increasing result of a series of actions or events.
Knock-on effect: An effect that happens after another event, often one of a series.
Sound effects: Artificially created or enhanced sounds used to accompany a story or scene.
Special effects: Illusions or visual tricks used in film, television, or theater.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of effect from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
