Meaning of effect In English

• 0 the result of a particular influence:

  • 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.

  • She has a lot of confidence, which she uses to good effect (= to her advantage) in interviews.

  • They had to wait ten minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect before they stitched up the cut.

  • I get the impression that she uses bad language in meetings for effect.

  • So in effect the government have lowered taxes for the rich and raised them for the poor.

  • She said she was unhappy, or words to that effect.

  • He said something to the effect that he would have to change jobs if the situation continued.

• 1 use:

  • The present system of payment will remain in effect (= be used) until the end of the rental agreement.

  • When do the new driving laws come into effect?

  • The new salary increases will take effect (= begin) from January onwards.

• 2 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:

  • This is a movie worth seeing for its effects alone.

• 3 a person's possessions, especially after their death:

  • It says on the form that the insurance covers all personal effects.

• 4 to achieve something and cause it to happen:

  • As a political party they are trying to effect a change in the way that we think about our environment.

• 5 the result of a particular influence; something that happens because of something else:

  • [ 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.

• 6 (esp. of rules or laws) official or legal use:

  • Winter parking rules are in effect (= must be obeyed) .

  • All salary increases will take effect (= begin) in January.

• 7 to achieve something and cause it to happen:

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

• 8 the result of a particular influence:

  • 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.

  • a significant/profound/dramatic effect

  • 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).

• 9 to be active or being used:

  • At that time a total ban on financial transactions was in effect.

• 10 to start working or being used:

  • On April 1 new sales taxes will come into effect.

  • The new credit regulations will take effect next year.

• 11 in fact, or in practice:

  • The ruling meant that, in effect, the company was allowed to continue to do business as usual.

• 12 to start using something or making it work:

  • The aim is to develop new management strategies and put them into effect.

• 13 used to describe a change that happens immediately or from a particular date:

  • She was appointed chief executive with immediate effect.

  • The company has announced the appointment of 13 new partners, with effect from 1 July 2012.

• 14 a person's possessions:

  • After his death, an inventory was taken of his effects.

  • Company relocation policies may cover the cost of insuring personal effects in transit.

• 15 to cause something to happen:

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