26984 words

effect

20 definitions • 37 examples
1

Examples:

effect on/upon The radiation leak has had a disastrous effect on/upon the environment.
I tried taking tablets for the headache but they didn't have any effect.
I think I'm suffering from the effects of too little sleep.
to good effect She has a lot of confidence, which she uses to good effect (= to her advantage) in interviews.
2
to produce or achieve the results you want:

Examples:

They had to wait ten minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect before they stitched up the cut.
3
If you say or do something for effect, you intentionally do it to shock people or attract their attention:

Examples:

I get the impression that she uses bad language in meetings for effect.
4
in fact, or in practice:

Examples:

So in effect the government have lowered taxes for the rich and raised them for the poor.
5
used to express that what you are reporting is only a short and general form of what was really said:

Examples:

words to that effect She said she was unhappy, or words to that effect.
6
use:

Examples:

in effect The present system of payment will remain in effect (= be used) until the end of the rental agreement.
come into effect When do the new driving laws come into effect?
take effect The new salary increases will take effect (= begin) from January onwards.
7
lighting, sounds, and objects that are specially produced for the stage or a film and are intended to make something that does not exist seem real:

Examples:

This is a movie worth seeing for its effects alone.
8
a person's possessions, especially after their death:

Examples:

personal effects It says on the form that the insurance covers all personal effects.
9
to achieve something and cause it to happen:

Examples:

As a political party they are trying to effect a change in the way that we think about our environment.
10
the result of a particular influence; something that happens because of something else:

Examples:

[ C ] The medicine had the effect of making me sleepy.
[ C ] Cold water slows hurricane growth, but warm water has the opposite effect.
[ U ] The new management actually has not had much effect on us.
11
(esp. of rules or laws) official or legal use:

Examples:

Winter parking rules are in effect (= must be obeyed) .
All salary increases will take effect (= begin) in January.
12
to achieve something and cause it to happen:

Examples:

It will take years to effect meaningful changes in the educational system.
13

Examples:

have/produce an effect Anti-inflationary measures do not yet seem to be having any effect.
effect of sth (on sth) The effect of the redundancies on morale has been extremely damaging.
see/feel/suffer the effects of sth Businesses are already feeling the effects of the new charges.
an adverse/negative/detrimental effect The slowdown will have a detrimental effect on earnings in the short term.
reduce/minimize the effects The problem is, how to deal with the demand for more and better goods while minimizing the effect on the environment.
They questioned whether financial liberalization had had the desired effect (= had done what it was intended to do).
14
to be active or being used:

Examples:

At that time a total ban on financial transactions was in effect.
15
to start working or being used:

Examples:

On April 1 new sales taxes will come into effect.
The new credit regulations will take effect next year.
16
in fact, or in practice:

Examples:

The ruling meant that, in effect, the company was allowed to continue to do business as usual.
17
to start using something or making it work:

Examples:

The aim is to develop new management strategies and put them into effect.
18
used to describe a change that happens immediately or from a particular date:

Examples:

She was appointed chief executive with immediate effect.
The company has announced the appointment of 13 new partners, with effect from 1 July 2012.
19
a person's possessions:

Examples:

After his death, an inventory was taken of his effects.
20
to cause something to happen:

Examples:

The transfer of a business is governed or effected by the law of the country in which the business is situated.

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