effect
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a change or result that is caused by something else.
n.a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
Simple“The new law had a positive effect on the local economy.”
In context“Scientists are still studying the long-term effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems and the broader food chain.”
UsageCommonly used with the preposition 'on'.
PitfallThe medicine had a good affect on me. The medicine had a good effect on me.Use 'effect' as a noun for the result, and 'affect' as a verb for the action of changing something.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the power to influence someone's feelings or thoughts.
n.the power to produce an outcome or achieve a particular impression on the mind.
Simple“The soft music had a calming effect on the crying baby.”
In context“The speaker's words had a profound effect on the audience, inspiring many to volunteer for the charity immediately.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the state of being active or in use, like a rule or a law.
n.the state of being operative or in force; often used in the phrases 'in effect' or 'to take effect'.
Simple“The new tax rules will take effect from the start of next year.”
In context“Although the policy is technically active, it has had little practical effect on the daily operations of the department.”
UsageOften follows the verbs 'take' or 'come into'.
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.an illusion created for a movie or a song using technology.
n.an illusion produced by technical means, such as sound manipulation or computer-generated imagery.
Simple“The special effects in the space movie looked incredibly realistic.”
In context“The sound engineer added a reverb effect to the vocals to give the track a more ethereal and spacious quality.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.the things that you own and carry with you.
n.personal property or belongings; almost exclusively used in the plural form.
Simple“The hotel staff returned all his personal effects after he left them in the room.”
In context“The insurance policy covers the loss of personal effects while traveling, provided they are kept in a secure location.”
UsageUsually appears as the fixed phrase 'personal effects'.
Synonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
v.to make something happen, especially a change.
v.to cause something to happen; to bring about or implement a result.
Simple“The new director hopes to effect significant changes within the company.”
In context“The protesters argued that only a complete overhaul of the system could effect the social justice they demanded.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb that usually takes 'change' or 'reforms' as an object.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'affect'. Remind them that 'to effect change' is a formal, specific collocation meaning 'to make change happen'.
Synonyms
effect vs affect — Affect is the action of influencing something, while effect is the result that follows.
Usage effects during the study · effects of very high · effect last
Of the noun: from Middle English effect, from Old French effect (modern French effet), from Latin effectus (“an effect, tendency, purpose”), from efficiō (“accomplish, complete, effect”); see effect as a verb. Displaced Old English fremming, fremednes from fremman. Of the verb: from Middle English effecten, partly from Medieval Latin effectuō, from Latin effectus, perfect passive participle of efficiō (“accomplish, complete, do, effect”), from ex (“out”) + faciō (“do, make”) (see fact and compare affect, infect) and partly from the noun effect.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.