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effect

effect

2.3
A result that happens because of something else
  • noun
  • /ɪˈfɛkt/
translation icon : efecto
  • Researchers are studying the long-term effect of stress on mental health.
  • side effects
  • long-term effects
  • adverse effects

What is the most important effect on our universe?

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Examples

  • So what about the effect of sleep on mood?

  • And they have a direct effect on weight gain.

  • But can that have a big effect weeks later?

  • You know, I guess they have a powerful effect on social groups.

  • What do people not understand about what effect that has on the mind?

  • This place has that effect on people.

  • What is the most important effect on our universe?

  • So let's see what it does and what effect it has on the skin.

  • This has lasting effects, okay?

  • The potential for a novel disease to have devastating effects on island species is well known.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

result
vseffect
1.0

The outcome of an action or event

is the change specifically caused by something like an action or drug
impact
vseffect
3.1

A strong effect on people, places, or things

is a change caused by something but not always strong or powerful
consequence
vseffect
874 4.1

A result of an action or event

is the change caused by something, not only a later event
outcome
vseffect
770 2.1

The result of an action or event

is a change produced directly by a cause rather than a state
upshot
vseffect
17 6.3

The final result of a situation that is often unexpected

is the change caused by something, not necessarily final or surprising

Idioms

258 3.7

Works in practice even if not official

in effect
  • Formal
81 3.7

Currently valid and must be followed

Having the same meaning as what was said

To say the same thing using different words

Compounds

side effect
  • Specialized
259 3.3

An unwanted health change caused by a medicine or treatment

special effect
  • Specialized
67 3.7

An image or sound used in film to show something that cannot be done in real life

27 3.1

A recorded sound added to films or plays to copy real noises

greenhouse effect
  • Specialized
16 3.4

The air around the Earth becomes warmer because some gases trap heat from the sun

placebo effect
  • Specialized
11 4.4

A health improvement that happens when a person believes a fake treatment will help them

A result that continues a long time after something happens

A chain of events in which one event causes the next to happen

2 4.7

An indirect result of an event that causes other changes

A change that helps someone feel better or get better

A situation where something gets bigger quickly and becomes hard to stop

butterfly effect
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A small change that causes big, unexpected results far away

Doppler effect
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A change in sound or light you notice when the thing making it and you move

Coriolis effect
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A curved path that moving air or water appear to follow because the Earth turns

coattails effect
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A popular candidate helps other candidates from the same party win votes

People start doing something because many others already do it

ground effect
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A plane gets extra upward lift and less air resistance when it flies very close to the ground

piezoelectric effect
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A feature of some crystals that makes electricity when pressed or makes them change shape when charged

Casimir effect
  • Specialized
9.9

A tiny force that pulls very close objects together because empty space contains tiny energy

A humorous idea that a person's presence makes lab equipment stop working

crosslight effect
  • Specialized
8.4

Light that shines from the side to show depth and surface texture

6.3

A small electronic device that controls electric current using an electric field

law of effect
  • Specialized
6.8

People repeat actions followed by a reward and avoid those followed by punishment

A style or item that makes someone stand out to get attention

ground-effect machine
  • Specialized
8.9

A craft that moves just above water or land on a cushion of air from its engines

A strong harmful result that spreads quickly among people

Pauli effect
  • Jargon
9.9

A joking belief that a person's presence makes equipment stop working

piezo effect
  • Specialized
9.8

An electric charge some crystals like quartz make when pressed or their change in shape when given electricity

post-kinetic effect
  • Specialized
9.9

A change in the body that happens after physical activity like exercise

position effect
  • Specialized
8.6

Change in how a gene works when it moves to a new place on a chromosome

A change that happens over time

A look on a surface that makes it seem bumpy or patterned

skin effect
  • Specialized
9.2

High-frequency electric current flows mostly near a wire's surface instead of through the whole wire

To make someone feel sleepy or ready to sleep

stage effect
  • Specialized
3.8

A sound, light, or smoke trick used in a play to make scenes more dramatic

Tyndall effect
  • Specialized
8.1

Light scattering by tiny particles that makes a beam visible, often blue

How Strong

devastation
90 4.8
brunt
41 7.5
impact
3.1
effect
2.3
trace
492 3.3

Surface Forms

effect singular
effects plural

Etymology

The word effect comes from the Latin parts ex- 'out' and facere 'to make'. So an effect is what is 'made' by an action — the result or change you can see.