Word
affect
Phoneticsaf·fect, stress on the second syllable
/əˈfɛkt/
Definitions
01to influence or change
B1 · Intermediate General-service
v. to produce a change in someone or something.
v. to produce an effect upon; to influence or alter the state of something. Transitive, requiring a direct object.
“The heavy rain will affect the traffic in the city center today.”
“Economists worry that rising interest rates will negatively affect consumer spending throughout the next fiscal quarter.”
Pitfall
The weather had a big affect on our plans.
The weather had a big effect on our plans.
In most cases, 'affect' is the verb (to change) and 'effect' is the noun (the result).
02to harm or infect
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
v. to attack or harm a part of the body, usually said of a disease.
v. of a disease or medical condition: to infect or impair the function of a specific organ or bodily system.
日本語:冒す※
Español:afectar
“The virus can affect the lungs and make it difficult to breathe.”
“The condition primarily affects the nervous system, leading to a gradual loss of motor coordination in elderly patients.”
03to pretend
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
v. to pretend to feel something or to act in a way that is not natural for you.
v. to make a false display of; to adopt a behavior or mannerism artificially or for effect.
日本語:装う※
“He tried to affect a British accent, but he didn't sound very natural.”
“She affected an air of indifference to the news, though her colleagues noticed her hands were shaking slightly.”
04outward emotion
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Psychology Academic · Technical
n. the way someone shows their feelings through their face or body.
n. the external expression of emotion as observed by others, distinct from the internal experience of feeling.
“The patient showed a flat affect, meaning his face did not show any emotion.”
“The psychiatrist noted that the subject displayed a restricted affect during the interview, rarely smiling or changing his tone of voice.”
Usage
Pronounced with the stress on the first syllable (AF-fect), unlike the verb form.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “affect” in context.
Confusables
Affect is the action of influencing something, while effect is the result that follows.
RememberAffect = Action. Effect = End result.
Etymology
From Middle English affecten, from Latin affectāre, from Latin affectus, the participle stem of Latin afficere (“to act upon, influence, affect, attack with disease”), from ad- + facere (“to make, do”).
From Middle English affecten, from Anglo-Norman affecter (“strive after”), Middle French affecter (“feign”), and their source, Latin affectāre (“to strive after, aim to do, pursue, imitate with dissimulation, feign”), frequentative of afficere (“to act upon, influence”) (see Etymology 1, above).
From Middle English affect, from Latin affectus, adfectus (“a state of mind or body produced by some (external) influence, especially sympathy or love”), from afficere (“to act upon, influence”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/affect
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0