# effect

/ˈifɛkt/ (US) · /ɪfˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/effect
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a result

noun · CEFR A2

a change or result that is caused by something else.

For teachers: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

- The new law had a positive effect on the local economy.
- Scientists are still studying the long-term effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems and the broader food chain.

Usage: Commonly used with the preposition 'on'.

### 2. an influence

noun · CEFR B1

the power to influence someone's feelings or thoughts.

For teachers: the power to produce an outcome or achieve a particular impression on the mind.

- The soft music had a calming effect on the crying baby.
- The speaker's words had a profound effect on the audience, inspiring many to volunteer for the charity immediately.

### 3. in operation

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the state of being active or in use, like a rule or a law.

For teachers: the state of being operative or in force; often used in the phrases 'in effect' or 'to take effect'.

- The new tax rules will take effect from the start of next year.
- Although the policy is technically active, it has had little practical effect on the daily operations of the department.

Usage: Often follows the verbs 'take' or 'come into'.

### 4. visual/sound tricks

noun · CEFR B1

an illusion created for a movie or a song using technology.

For teachers: an illusion produced by technical means, such as sound manipulation or computer-generated imagery.

- The special effects in the space movie looked incredibly realistic.
- The sound engineer added a reverb effect to the vocals to give the track a more ethereal and spacious quality.

### 5. personal belongings

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the things that you own and carry with you.

For teachers: personal property or belongings; almost exclusively used in the plural form.

- The hotel staff returned all his personal effects after he left them in the room.
- The insurance policy covers the loss of personal effects while traveling, provided they are kept in a secure location.

Usage: Usually appears as the fixed phrase 'personal effects'.

### 6. to bring about

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to make something happen, especially a change.

For teachers: to cause something to happen; to bring about or implement a result.

- The new director hopes to effect significant changes within the company.
- The protesters argued that only a complete overhaul of the system could effect the social justice they demanded.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that usually takes 'change' or 'reforms' as an object.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'affect'. Remind them that 'to effect change' is a formal, specific collocation meaning 'to make change happen'.

## Examples

- The medicine had a positive effect on my health.
- Scientists are studying the long-term effect of rising temperatures on local crop yields.
- The researchers observed a significant ripple effect throughout the local economy following the closure of the city's largest manufacturing plant.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.