n. 1 result, consequence, outcome, conclusion, upshot, aftermath, impact The effects of the storm could be seen everywhere 2 effectiveness, efficacy, force, power, capacity, potency, influence, impression, impact, Colloq clout, punch His threats had no effect 3 significance, meaning, signification, purport, sense, essence, drift, implication, import, tenor, purpose, intent, intention, object, objective She said 'Get lost', or words to that effect 4 impact, impression, form, sensation He didn't mean that, he just said it for effect 5 in effect. effectively, virtually, for (all) practical purposes, so to speak, more or less; actually, in (point of) fact, really, essentially, basically, at bottom, in truth, truly, to all intents and purposes, at the end of the day, any way you look at it She always spoke of him as her adopted son and this, in effect, was what he was 6 take effect. become operative or operational, come into force, begin or start to work or function or operate The regulation doesn't take effect till next week
v. 7 bring about, cause, make happen or take place, effectuate, achieve, accomplish, secure, obtain, make, execute, carry out, produce, create The opposition was unable to effect any change in the law