I. ef ‧ fect 1 S1 W1 /ɪˈfekt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ effect , ↑ effectiveness ≠ ↑ ineffectiveness ; adjective : ↑ effective ≠ ↑ ineffective , ↑ effectual ≠ ↑ ineffectual ; verb : ↑ effect ; adverb : ↑ effectively ≠ ↑ ineffectively ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin effectus , past participle of efficere 'to cause to happen' ]
1 . CHANGE/RESULT [uncountable and countable] a change that is caused by an event, action etc
effect on
My parents’ divorce had a big effect on me.
effect of
the harmful effects of modern farming practices
the long-term effects of the drug
I could feel the effects of the thin mountain air.
This ingredient also has the effect of making your skin look younger.
A system failure has a knock-on effect throughout the whole hotel.
the cumulative effect of human activities on the global environment
A much lower dose of the painkiller can still produce the desired effect.
In mental illness, there is a complex relationship between cause and effect.
⇨ ↑ greenhouse effect , ↑ side effect
► Do not confuse with the verb affect (=to have an effect on something).
2 . put/bring something into effect to make a plan or idea happen:
It won’t be easy to put the changes into effect.
3 . take effect to start to produce results:
The morphine was starting to take effect and the pain eased.
4 . LAW/RULE
a) take effect/come into effect if a law, rule, or system takes effect or comes into effect, it officially starts
b) be in effect if a law, rule, or system is in effect, it is being used now
5 . with immediate effect/with effect from formal starting to happen immediately, or from a particular date:
Hoskins is appointed manager, with immediate effect.
6 . in effect used when you are describing what you see as the real facts of a situation SYN effectively :
In effect, we’ll be earning less than we were last year.
7 . to good/great/no etc effect used to show how successful an action is:
We tried to wake him, but to no effect.
8 . to this/that/the effect used when you are giving the general meaning of something, rather than the exact words:
Jim told me to go away, or words to that effect.
The letter said something to the effect that she was no longer needed.
9 . IDEA/FEELING [countable usually singular] an idea or feeling that an artist, speaker, book etc tries to make you think of or to feel SYN impression
effect of
Turner’s paintings give an effect of light.
10 . for effect if someone does something for effect, they do it in order to make people notice:
She paused for effect, then carried on speaking.
11 . PERSONAL POSSESSIONS effects [plural] formal the things that someone owns SYN belongings :
Don’s few personal effects were in a suitcase under the bed.
12 . FILM [countable usually plural] an unusual or impressive sound or image that is artificially produced for a film, play, or radio programme
⇨ ↑ sound effects , ↑ special effect
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have an effect on something/somebody
Eating junk food will eventually have an effect on your health.
▪ have the effect of doing something
The news had the effect of making everyone feel better.
▪ produce an effect formal
If we combine these sounds, they produce an effect that is almost jazzy.
▪ feel an effect (=notice it)
Small companies will feel the effect of the recession first.
▪ lessen/reduce an effect (=make an effect smaller or less severe)
The government must take action to reduce the effects of pollution.
▪ cushion the effect of something (=make it less bad)
Lower mortgage rates will cushion the effect of rising house prices.
▪ an effect lasts (=continues)
The effect of the drug lasts about six hours.
▪ an effect wears off (=gradually stops)
The effect of the anaesthetic was beginning to wear off.
■ adjectives
▪ big/major
The teachers’ strike had a big effect on many schools.
▪ significant/substantial/marked (=quite big)
Global warming could have a significant effect on agriculture in many parts of the world.
▪ profound/powerful (=very big, in a way that changes someone or something significantly )
My father’s death had a profound effect on me.
▪ dramatic (=very big and sudden)
Taking the new drug had a dramatic effect on his health.
▪ small
The drugs have a relatively small effect on a lot of patients.
▪ negligible/minimal formal (=very small)
The advertising campaign had a negligible effect on demand.
▪ immediate (=quick and sudden)
The announcement had an immediate effect on stock prices.
▪ good
Inflation can sometimes have some good effects on the economy.
▪ positive/beneficial (=good, or helping someone or something in some way)
The incident had a very positive effect on his career.
▪ bad
Working too hard was beginning to have a bad effect on my health.
▪ negative/detrimental (=bad or harmful)
the negative effects of low rainfall
▪ harmful/damaging (=causing harm or damage to something or someone)
the harmful effects of drinking too much alcohol
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Some of the effects can be quite damaging.
▪ visible/noticeable (=an effect that you can clearly see)
He drank five beers, but they did not seem to have any visible effect on him.
▪ the adverse effects formal (=the bad effects)
No one told them about the adverse effects of smoking marijuana.
▪ the long-term/short-term effect (=having an effect for a long or short time)
Many boxers suffer with the long-term effects of punches to the head.
▪ a knock-on effect (=an effect that is caused by something that has happened before)
The strike could have a knock-on effect at other airports.
▪ a cumulative effect (=the effect of many things happening one after the other)
The cumulative effect of these policies will be to push up inflation.
▪ the desired effect (=the effect you want)
His team talk had the desired effect because the team went on to win the game.
▪ the full effect (=the whole effect)
We won’t know the full effect of the tax changes until the end of the financial year.
▪ a calming/soothing effect (=one that makes you feel less angry, excited, or nervous)
His words seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ effect a change that is caused by an event, action etc:
The people in this area are still suffering from the effects of the famine.
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The treatment had little or no effect.
▪ impact an effect that happens as a result of something important, especially a big and permanent effect:
Changes in technology have had a massive impact on the way we work.
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the environmental impact of industrial activity
▪ influence the effect that something has on people’s opinions or behaviour, or on how something develops:
American television has had a big influence on popular culture in the west.
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His ideas had a lot of influence at the time.
▪ side effect an unwanted and unplanned effect that something has – used especially about drugs and medical treatment:
Common side effects of the drug may include headaches and muscle pains.
▪ after-effects British English , aftereffects American English bad effects that continue for a long time after the thing that caused them:
A traumatic experience can have severe psychological after-effects.
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the after-effects of the war
▪ repercussions /ˌriːpəˈkʌʃ ə ns $ -pər-// the effects that happen later as a result of an event or decision, especially a range of effects that continue for a long time:
The scandal could have serious repercussions for her career.
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The judge’s decision is likely to have important repercussions for future cases of this kind.
▪ a knock-on effect British English used when something has an effect on something, which then has an effect on something else:
Higher oil prices have a knock-on effect on other fuels.
▪ footprint the effect that human activities have on the environment, caused by using up its natural resources, pollution, waste etc:
Businesses all over the world must attempt to reduce their environmental footprint.
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The house has a low carbon footprint (=it uses very little energy from carbon and therefore is good for the environment) .
II. effect 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ effect , ↑ effectiveness ≠ ↑ ineffectiveness ; adjective : ↑ effective ≠ ↑ ineffective , ↑ effectual ≠ ↑ ineffectual ; verb : ↑ effect ; adverb : ↑ effectively ≠ ↑ ineffectively ]
formal to make something happen SYN bring about :
Many parents lack confidence in their ability to effect change in their children’s behaviour.
► Do not confuse with the verb affect (=to have an effect on something).